My wife and I have three sons and a daughter. Our youngest is a boy. His name is Gabriel John Bryant. He is three. Gayle and I named him for the meaning: Gabriel means, "God is my strength." John means, "God's gracious gift”. Bryant means, "Down from the mountain with power, strength and virtue." That means we have a son with a double portion of God's strength, who lives in Christ with virtuous power.
We have called all of our children by their names: Elijah, Allegra, Malachi, and Gabriel. Of course there are exceptions. One such exception is an ancient practice of the full name warning: “Gabriel John Bryant. Come to me now!” Another is mixing names in the flurry of family frenzy rushing and racing to get somewhere we forgot and we’re late to top it off. I call my children by every name in the house except their own: “Malachi, uh, no Elijah..Allegra…sorry… (With an inner sigh of relief that I finally got it)… Gabriel.” I just knew that when I became a man, husband and father that I wouldn't do that name mix-up with my kids. Oops. Sorry, Mom and Dad. I let you off the hook, again.
Every person in the house calls my youngest son "Gabe". That is everyone, except for me. I hold to naming him what I will call him and calling him what I named him. "But", says Gayle, "Gabe fits him so well." Then I noticed Grampa and Granma from both sides of the family called him “Gabe”! Then I heard our family in the Christian community calling him, "Gabe".
Gabe, Gabe, Gabe! I decided to get to the bottom of this issue. I would ask my son. (Remember dear reader that I'm speaking to a two year old) We had just finished cuddling and reading a book. Then we moved to the hard-wood floor to race cars in his room. Face-to-face over a fleet of Hot Wheels my son and I played cars with enthusiasm making sounds like "BRRRRRRR, GRRRRRR, SCREEEEECH, CRASH!!!! Over a pile of cars I asked him, "Son, your mommy and I named you Gabriel. Many people call you Gabe. Do you want me to call you Gabe or Gabriel?" His innocent face and glowing eyes lightly shinned on me, "Gabe, Dad," he said as a matter of fact in childlike tones. And there it was. From my son’s mouth in his own words. We are no longer Gabriel and Daddy. At two, we are Gabe and Dad.
Comments
Friday, January 5, 2007 - Abba
Posted by EncourageYou
Reminds me of Jesus calling His Father, "Abba." May the "Gabe" and "Dad" remind you of the intimacy between father and son.
Best,
Jeff
Monday, January 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by rachelle
Well! Given the other similarities between you and Jeremy, I found this post a little funny. We also have one daughter and three sons. Our baby is Gabriel as wel. He turns one on Friday.
Anyways, despite our best intentions to refer to everyone by their given names...it seems that Emily, Josiah, and Gabriel have become Em, Siah and Gabe. Even Jeremy is "Jer" to me. Levi and I seem to be the only ones who have kept our names intact.
I think I kind of agree with EncouragYou though. It's a little less formal and a little more intimate.
Blessings to you and yours!
Monday, January 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Jeremy
I say not to fret regardless of the way you want to say his name. Unless he's quite exceptional in his maturity level, I have my doubts as to his ability at two years of age to make life-long decisions. :) If you like Gabriel - say it! Maybe it'll be something that becomes special to him later in life because that was what his Daddy always called him. To the rest of the world he can be Gabe the babe - but if you want to call him what you named him (which I agree with completely) then in my opinion - go for it. I call my kids such a variety of names that they're sure to grow up confused anyway so it hasn't been an issue for us. I always think of them as their full names though. Oh - and Rachelle - my short form for Levi is Leviticus. It just roles off the tongue. What can I say. :)
For the record - if I could have chosen - I would have been Jeremiah.
More seriously, I've enjoyed your blog Chris.
Blessings,
Jeremy ... or should I say Jeremiah.
Monday, January 8, 2007 - Listening Dad
Posted by SmallWorld
It's great to be a parent that asks--and listens. I have been amused/irritated my whole life because my parents call my oldest brother "Jamie." As long as I have been around, he has referred to himself as "James." As a small child, of course, he was Jamie. He is now 56 years old, and my parents still call him by his little boy nickname. It seems a little thing, perhaps even affectionate; however, their whole relationship has been defined by mutual misunderstandings. What a small thing it would have been for my parents to respect his decision to be known as "James" when he was a teenager.
On a personal family note, our oldest is Jesse, but his grandparents on both sides always call him "Jess." He cringes every time they say it, but we can't seem to get them to remember that he is NOT Jess. Seems like it was a generational thing to instantly turn one's name into a nickname.
Monday, January 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryMomof4
I can totally relate. When we chose to name our little guy Gabriel, my husband was very clear that he would be called just that. Now he is often called Gabe, but if you were to ask him what he wants to be called, it would be Fa Fa, or Hedgie, or Nacho Libre (don't ask). Be grateful he likes Gabe. ~K
Monday, January 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by nsremom
For some reason.....I've taken to calling him Gabe as well, and occasionally.....Gaby.....just like your daughter. :)
Gabriel happens to be one of the nicest 3 year olds that I know! You both are doing a great job.
Friday, January 12, 2007 - What is it with people and nicknames?
Posted by EEEEMommy
One summer when I was home from college and working, I decided to go by my full name at work: Angelica. I thought it sounded more professional than Angel. I could only endure a few days of people making references to the Rug Rats, stumbling over my (oh so difficult?) name and then finally calling me "Angie" or "Angela" before I corrected them all and allowed them to call me Angel (I despise being called Angela). Oh, well. With family and friends it's Ange, Jelly, Aine-ding, A...sigh, and Angelica is such a nice name!
I love that you and Gayle chose a name with such strong meaning! That was very important to us as well! Our son's name means "steadfast and immovable Christ-bearer" and our last name is foundation. Plus it's a Bible name too. Bonus!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by eyecorn
What a neat story...I admire you for going to your son and asking him.
I do the same thing, call the kids by each others name, but what's really bad is when I call them by the pets' names! I'll look right at DD5 and call her Plato (dog's name).
Saturday, February 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by momn4boys
I remember when my mother in law called me by several of her own kids' names before she got to mine. (she has 8) I took it as a compliment!