What's Your Name?

The four teachers had a problem. They were gathered around the table, choosing the winners of the school's essay-writing contest. The theme was "What's Your Name?"

Mr. de Guzman, the principal, asked, "No three winners yet?!"

"Sir," said Teacher Milagring, "four are outstanding!"

"All excellent!" the two other teachers added.

"It's hard to choose only three!" Teacher Ligaya said.

"That's easy!" the principal replied, scanning the four papers. He read aloud parts of the essays:

"Gracia (fifth grade): My parents said that my name is a very important word in the Bible. Without 'gracia,' the Filipino words for grace, we can't have or do anything. It is only by God's grace that I am doing well in school."

"Mateo (third grade): My Tatay is also Mateo. He and my Nanay named me after himself because Mateo is Filipino for Matthew, one of the apostles of Jesus. Matthew wrote the book of Matthew in the Bible, the first book that tells us Jesus is our Lord."

"Namnama (sixth grade): Namnama is Ilocano for hope. According to Jose Rizal, the youth are the hope of the fatherland. My parents said they have hope in this country and hope in me. I promise not to fail them."

"Luzviminda (sixth grade): Luzviminda is a combination of the three major islands of the Philippines - Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. My parents are very proud that they were born in this country. I also feel proud explaining my name to balikbayans."

Mr. de Guzman roared, "We have FOUR winners!"

Prayer:

Thank You for my name, Lord. Amen.

Memory verse:

"I am the Lord. That is my name." Isaiah 42:8

“Quiet Time with Mateo – 52 Weekly Devotions for Children” is published by OMF Literature, Inc. and available at leading bookstores.