Sealed As God's Own

Monograms are big in the South. Women love them on everything, truly. Purses, shoes, clothes, hats ... the list goes on. It's like they want to claim everything with their own special brand. The monogram is typically three initials: first, middle and last, with the last name initial in the center. Apparently the Greeks were the first to monogram, although giving something a special seal is spoken about way back in the Old Testament. Monogramming became huge in the Victorian age when people monogrammed everything. Forbes magazine says an article in 1871 called those who over used them "monogramaniacs." The article even stresses discretion when deciding what to monogram. But it is fun to see your personal monogram on something, especially if you have a name that's hard to find on preprinted items like key chains, bicycle license plates and, of late, Coca-Cola cans.

For women, that monogram gets tricky at marriage in that now they have a new last name, so what will the new monogram be? Will it include the middle name initial or maiden name initial? For example: my middle name is Elizabeth, but my maiden name is Lauritzen. When I got married, I chose to use my maiden name initial for my monogram. Thus, JZL. Kayla commented recently that she was keeping her middle name for her initial, and it's a precious reason why. Apparently a lot of folks have thought her middle name was Lee her whole life, so she's planning to be Kayla Marie Zimanek with a KZM for her monogram. Ayla has toyed with the idea of having both AGE for her monogram for Ayla Elizabeth Goggin or AGZ to keep the Zimanek. Of course, we're partial to the Zimanek since Z's are so rare.

In the grand scheme of things, the monogram is not vastly important, in the sense that truly women have all four names. They don't disappear. You are who you are regardless of what monogram is embroidered on your bathroom towels. But here's a precious twist ... the couple's monogram. It's where the first initial of the groom is on the left of the last name initial and the bride's first initial is on the right. Many couples even choose to have a professional monogram created to be used at their wedding for decor and on correspondence. Thus, RGA for Rob and Ayla and AZK for Tone and Kayla. A beautiful seal in these unions.

One day, we are told, a nasty fellow - nicknamed the "antichrist" in the Bible, will come along and put his own personal seal (a monogram, so to speak) on his followers. The Bible says the seal is 666. There are all kinds of theories on what the 666 stands for: the numeric value of the name? The sixth letter of the Greek alphabet three times? (Which, by the way, is zeta, thus ZZZ). Who knows. But Scripture also speaks of other seals. In Exodus 28:36 it speaks of the seal of the high priest's turban: "Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD." In Song of Solomon 8:6, the bride tells the groom, "Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm." And Ephesians 1:13 tells us, "When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." And in Revelation 7:3, "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." So while the antichrist is doing his sealing, so is the Lord. I like the idea of being monogrammed as one of God's own. "Holy to the Lord" ... that works for me.

So whatever monogram you choose to use, if any, know that the one that means the most is the one that marks you as Christ's. Bought and paid for, signed ... and sealed.

Discussion: Why do you think people like monograms? What is the oddest thing you have seen monogrammed? What is the cleverest thing you've seen monogrammed? How do you feel about being "monogrammed" as Christ's?

Prayer: Father, we belong wholely and holy to you. While we may not have a visible seal on our foreheads or arms, we do pray it's certainly on our hearts and visible to those who see us that we belong to you! We love you so very much, Father. In Christ we pray, Amen.