“Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19b
When I was a young teen, I had a very important person in my life: my great-grandmother. She was this lovely, petite lady who barely approached my chin as I held her arm on the way into church. She had long white hair she always wore up in a double bun at the nape of her neck. In the winter she wore a cobalt blue wool coat, highlighting her sky-blue eyes and contrasting beautifully with her snowy hair.
Although she knew many hardships in life, (she had lost her mother as a young woman and helped raise her younger sisters, her husband had died after suffering from Alzheimer’s, and she lived her final years alone in her little brick house,) she had a truly sweet and gentle spirit.
She lived directly across the road from our family, and I would visit her every morning before I boarded the school bus, and even practiced my music lessons on her piano when I did not have an instrument at home.
Grandma was always sweet, wanting to feed both the body and soul. She always tried to feed anyone who visited, and she seasoned the meal with conversation about her faith. She didn’t preach at you; instead, I remember her telling me about how God constantly helped her throughout her life. He was her constant comfort and companion.
I was 15 when she died. I knew she was ready to meet Jesus face-to-face, for she had told me many times. Yet, I missed her terribly. I remember the cloudy afternoon after we laid her to rest deep in the earth, I returned home to my room and wrote a poem. I also prayed I would one day possess a deep faith like hers. A faith, that even through adversity, would never waver.
I vowed, if I ever became a writer, my pen name would be Stefanie Lynn. Grandma’s maiden name was Lynn, and I was named after this great woman. I never wanted to forget her gentle, sweet example of how a Christ-like lady lives.
I have the immense joy of honoring her memory every time someone asks me how I chose my pen name.
In Luke 22, Jesus commands his disciples to do certain things in “remembrance of me.”
Beginning in verse 19, he instructs his disciples on what we commonly call “Communion.”
Each week I am given the opportunity to stop all other thoughts and focus on what Christ did for me. I don’t view it as a guilt trip, but rather a reminder of how humbled I am. Jesus’ love is deep, and I am so important to Him that He gave His life for me and for you.
That time should help me refocus my spirit on Him. Realign my thoughts with God motives. And, propel me forward in acting how He commands. Not perfect. No, not on this side of heaven. But desiring to serve and honor Him.
Jesus says if you love me, you will keep my commands.
Do my thoughts honor Him?
Do my words honor Him?
Do my actions honor Him?
Can Jesus tell that I love Him?
When we take the name as a “Christian,” we are identifying ourselves with Christ. We are sharing His name. Just as I reference my great-grandmother in my pen name, Christians reference Christ by our collective title.
That very thought should give us pause before we say or do anything.
If you, like me, struggle in honoring Christ’s name in thought, word and deed, we can ask for His help. Will you join me in prayer for just that?
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know my heart. Your know I want to represent you well. Allow my communion with You to convict, console, and convince me to trust You more each day. Thank You Lord that You are constantly growing me to reflect You. In Jesus’ name, amen.