This is Get a Different Name Day.

Johnny Cash once had a hit song entitled, “A Boy Named Sue.” It tells the story of a young man who had to fight his way through life because people would make fun of his name. The end of the song reveals that the man’s father named him “Sue” to make him tough.

You may have wanted to change your name. Perhaps someone with the same first or last name did something terrible, and it was all over the news. How would you like to be named “Saddam”? You’d quickly get sick of all the comments and jokes. Or maybe you think your last name is too long or confusing, like “Froomerwhipplesnitczle.” Try putting that on the back of your baseball jersey!

Names are interesting because we are so attached to them. If asked, “Who are you?” we answer with our name. And if someone whispers our name, even in a noisy room, we hear it—we’re tuned in.

But people are more than their names. Beyond your name, you are a student, a son or daughter, or a team member. You are a citizen, a musician, or a friend.

The truth about you and every person is that you are good, special, important, and loved by God. You were created in his image. No matter what happens or how you feel, always remember that you are not just a boy or girl. And you are much more than your name. You are a child of God, made like your heavenly Father, and you bear the family resemblance. Wow!

So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27).

To Do

Make a bookmark out of cardboard. On it write, “In His Image—special and loved!” Then use that bookmark in the textbook you use the most to remind you of who you really are.

Also on this day . . .

1635—The first public school in the United States was established.

1965—Sixteen-year-old Peggy Fleming won the ladies senior figure skating title at Lake Placid, NY.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.