A New Name, "Papí"

It seems as though each year the Lord emphasis to me an aspect of His birth. To you it may not be “ground-breaking”, but for me it is good to consider, and I’d like to share it with you. It is regarding a new name that I’ve acquired as we’ve fostered our Honduran kids and if given the license to translate it is one of the names of God the Father… Abba, or Papí. This name, Papí, has become a significant name this year as my Spanish name, Ricardo has become Papí to our 3 Honduran foster kids. And, I’ve considered how the baby Jesus grew those first months and years and I’d imagine that he called God, Abba… or translated in Spanish, Papí.

Papí is an intimate name. Nearly 11 years ago Tony during his first year with us began to call me Dad a more intimate name. And, this year it happened again our Honduran kids gave me a more intimate name, Papí. You know that we believers in Christ had to make this transition to an intimate name for God. It was Jesus who taught us adopted children to talk to his Father like this… “Our Papí (Daddy) who is in the heavens…” It is almost irreverent sounding at first. But, I assure you we have permission to call our Lord by this intimate name because there is nothing more reverent to God than intimacy.

Not only is Papí an intimate name, but it is an identifying name. Kim and I continually receive “double takes” as we go about Tegucigalpa with our Honduran children and they call us Mamí or Papí. Why?... because these names identify them to us and us to them in a very special way. Can you imagine the “double takes” that Jesus received as he called God, “Abba” or “Papí”? Matter of fact, we received one of those “double takes” last month as we referred to God as our Father. We hosted in our home during the Thanksgiving holiday a young Jewish couple. During the course of several days together we had several discussions about our different religions. When we referred to God or when we prayed using the name, “Father”… they looked at us differently. They don’t call the Lord, “Father”; it was a name that Jesus used. Certainly calling God, “Abba”, “Daddy” or “Papí” was an extreme. This name identified the God of creation as intimately related to Jesus; indeed he is, and indeed we are.

Also, Papí is an enlightening name. Since our Honduran kids have been calling me Papí, I’ve had the desire to teach them all about life and more about my life. One of our favorite bed-time rituals is reading a Bible story and praying together before bed. Every night they ask me to tell them a story about my life; they want to hear about my childhood, youth, my family, etc. Sure, they may be stalling to keep from going to sleep, but I’m glad to enlighten them about some new aspect or story about my life. Our Papí in heaven is like this; He wants to teach us more and more about Him. Just this week Kim read me a passage of scripture where Peter made a profound statement and Jesus was quick to point out that this was enlightenment from the heavenly Father. Papis are quick to teach their children when asked and when the children present themselves as teachable.

Consider the Christ-child during those first months and years as He called His Father, “Abba”, an intimate name, “Daddy”, an identifying name, “Papí”, a name that enlightens. There is nothing stronger or more mature than a child-like faith. This Christmas may you consider the wonderful name of our heavenly Papí.

We are praying that you will have a wonderful Christmas and New Year season. And may God bless you.