Okay, let’s rewind.
I blaze by the golf course (in my dreams). “Hi, Alex.”
Teenager looks up. “I’m Adam.”
Blast! Wrong again.
Now we’re all caught up.
Mixing up names troubles me. When I call an older brother by the younger’s name, the confusion troubles me more. So last week, when I mixed up names, I did the double-trouble trick.
Tricky trouble one. Wrong name. Bad.
Tricky trouble two. Called older brother by younger brother’s name. Really bad.
I’m the eldest of six—four boys, two girls. I didn’t especially enjoy being called by any of my younger brothers’ names. It was worse when Mom would get really exasperated, because in her frustration, often the best she could manage would be “Tah-Way-Rah—oh, whichever one you are!” That usually meant one of us, Tom, Wayne, or Roger, (or all three) was in deep do-do. Gulp!
One exception to a mix-up in names, though, comes to my mind and brings great pleasure. And it’s not based on confusion at all.
Though I’m the eldest of Joe Tarver’s kids, I have an older brother through my adopted family. In fact, my oldest brother paid the adoption fee in full. And our Father gives me everything, and I do mean everything, that by rights belongs to the ONE who paid for my adoption.
I love my older brother. I want to be called by his name.
Any time.
Anywhere.
By anybody.
“What you did reminds me of Jesus.”
“Thank you. He’s my older brother.”
“Jesus loves it when you share.”
“I agree. Did you know he’s my older brother?”
“I seem to be lost. Can you tell me how to get HOME?”
“Sure. Just follow my older brother, Jesus. He’s the Way HOME.”
Question: Are we related?
A Curious Band of Others 
Tom, you did it again, only this time you made me cry first and then laugh. Cry because I am related to you through Christ JEsus..you are my brother…thank God I can say that!
You made me laugh because I have heard my mother-in-law go through all 3 sons names before landing on the right one! With only one child I really should never have that problem, right?
My blood brother is so distant, not in miles but in relationship, to me that I long for brothers and have been blessed with several good men who I consider brothers. Some tall, some short like me. You know what I mean. But I had not thought about this way of looking at my relationship with Jesus. Thanks….it touched me. HE touched me. MJ
So I take that as a yes to the question. Thanks, MJ, for your words and your friendship.
Yes, we are related brother and most of all, He not only knows our name. He knows us better then we do. Thanks for the great reminder.
Congratulations, proud papa. And glad to be an in-the-blood relative.