What name did your parents give you when you were born? Me? I am Vivian Lea Watts (nee Wilson). I was named for my mom, Vivian Eleanor. But I have never been called Vivian except for those who don’t know me well, like telemarketers. My nickname and name were both chosen by my father and I am called “Vickie.” I often get asked how Vickie relates to Vivian. Answer: It doesn’t but it made it so that there were not two Vivians in our house.

When we were younger, I would dare to say that we had a lot of nicknames. Mine were things like “slow poke” and “wheezy” or “sneezy”. Because of my allergies and asthma, I couldn’t run and wheezing and sneezing were part of my everyday life.

I am very thankful that I will not have to introduce myself to God. In fact, He already knows me and will give me a new name, one uniquely mine. I don’t understand it, the whole white stone thing and the new name, but if God says it, somehow it will come to pass.

But I already have new names to add to my nickname. Here are a few that I treasure in my heart and that lift me up when I am feeling unworthy.

I am a child of God and so are you. Jesus made it possible for us to be adopted into the family of God so that we belong to Him and with Him.

We are God’s workmanship and just look around you! God does not make junk! Notice that God planned and prepared for us to do good works, using the talents that He gave us.

I am forgiven and if Christ lives in you because He is your Lord and Savior, so are you. Forgiven and redeemed, forever bound to the Savior who gave me new life.

Here is that name to which I previously referred. I am redeemed from my sins and from the “hand of the enemy” in order to say so. The hand of the enemy could be temptation and sin, but the greatest enemy is death. Death was defeated on the cross, so I am also alive forevermore. (🎶)

And ultimately, I am a brand new creation. People may refer to my past and sins I have committed, but in the eyes of God, I am totally new, with a clean slate and a white robe. The blood of Jesus paid a heavy price so that I could have this name.