When I think of the word dad, a picture of my dad’s face appears in my mind. Although strangely I cannot say how old he is in the image. But dad is not just a simple name because it is so much more. Contained within a name is something much bigger. It carries with it a reputation, one that will outlive us.

When I think of my dad, the reputation he built over the years makes him stand out differently from others. When I looked at him, I saw a man who would give anything for me. In fact, he did not just say things to me, he demonstrated his love for me through his actions. Therefore, I was thoroughly convinced that he would do whatever was in his power to help me if I asked. Wow, what a reputation, and in this case, what a dad! What kind of example are we to others? Are we just a parent or sibling? Are we just a spouse? Or are we something more? When others are asked to describe us, what will they say?

Names can also carry power in a negative way. Every time I hear someone be called a loser, worthless, or another harmful name, it makes me cringe. People have no idea the power of a name. Is the name we call another something worth them living up to? If we call them lazy, will they not strive to live up to that expectation? It takes faith to believe when something remains unseen. At times, we need others to see us as more than we are so that we can continue to move forward in life until we live up to a desirable reputation. A person may hurt themselves trying to live up to what we say about them.

Recognize the value in one name. The next time we go name calling, why not choose a good one like honest, dependable, or charitable? Let them live up to the expectation, even if it initially brings disappointment. Who knows, one day things may change. When someone calls us by a name, it is more than just a name. If it is a bad name, defy it. If it is an honorable name, then live up to it.

Copyright ©2022 AuthorJeffKayser.com. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s post is an excerpt from Jeff Kayser’s book titled “The Value of One.” Return every week to read a new excerpt from the book. Why wait? The book in its entirety is available today at Amazon. Click the link below for the book’s video trailer.