We were all given names at birth. Some have meaning, some are given on a whim, a famous person, a family name, or it just sounds right. Your name is your calling card from that day forward.

John Fleshner Bruns was the name I was given at birth. The Bruns part is pretty simple, it’s my family name. Immigrants from Germany, I’m am the fourth generation in America. Fleshner was my mom’s maiden name. She was one of two daughters in her family so there was no male child to carry on the family name. In honor of her father, Fleshner was bestowed on me as a middle name in which I always sign my middle initial to acknowledge that. And then there is John, a good catholic name, one of the apostles. Apparently popular in 1953 as there were four others named John in my classroom at school which we used it to our advantage to drive the nuns crazy.

As a very young child, I was always jealous of my brother’s name. He was named after my father Charles and somehow, I felt I should have been a Charles too! But as I got older, I realized all the issues behind being a ‘Jr’; mail, being mistaken for dad or vice-versa when your name is called, and just having your own identity. Hence his nickname was Chuck and my dad was called Chick.

When Suzanne and I were married, she took my family name, an honor to me and my heritage. Although she has a heritage as well with the maiden name Crider. Being a blended family, each of our kids we brought into this marriage didn’t have the same last name so there was always some confusion at school and events.

How people address you and pronounce your name is important. Miss pronouncing a name leads to missed connections and over the years I have learned the way our family name can be misspoken. Take for example last Wednesday as we waited in the busy waiting room at Rush and as the nurse loudly says ‘Burns’. I hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said “Did you mean Bruns?” to which she replied “Nope, Burns” so I sat back down. Knowing that it is a real common mistake for someone to call me Mr. Burns, I was patient. “Burns,” the nurse said, and then again “Burns”. I stood up again and asked “are you sure you don’t mean Bruns? and she replied, “no it’s Burns”. Waiting as she shouted out a couple more times and no one responded, I stood up and approached her and asked that she verify the spelling on her card. “Oh, Bruns” were the next words out of her mouth, and we proceeded to the Doctors’ Office.

That same afternoon, we were sitting in another busy waiting room when the nurse came out and proclaimed “Susan”. I watch, knowing that she probably meant Suzanne but it was very possible that there is a Susan in the room with us. She again announced “Susan” to which I stood up and asked, “Did you mean Suzanne?” Of course, the answer was “no, Susan,” so I sat back down. “Susan,” she said, and again “Susan!” Not wanting to miss the appointment, I stood up and approached the nurse, and asked if she could verify the name on the card. “Oh, Suzanne!” were then next words out of her mouth to which we again proceeded to the Doctors office.

Every name is important to the person who owns it and most likely they have heard every mispronunciation possible. So the next time you’re faced with calling out a name at Church, a Ballgame, or some other event, PLEASE spend the time to read the name you have been provided and do your best to honor the name that was given to that individual you are seeking.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

Proverbs 22:1

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