๐๐บ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฏ
My friends call me Dan. Some call me Kuya Dan, Kuya D, or Sir Dan. Pero yung mga nakakakilala sa akin since birth, they simply call me by my full nameโDante. Whatever way they call me, it always sounds beautiful to my ear. It is an identity Iโve carried since I was born, and for me, it is the most beautiful name in the world.
Ang ibig sabihin pala ng Dante, which is popular in Italy, Spain, and Germany, is โenduringโ or โsteadfast.โ It comes from the medieval name Durante and was also given in honor of the great Italian poet, Dante Alighieri. The name carries connotations of strength, resilience, and an unshakeable nature. Ang ganda, โdi ba? Nakakatuwa na minsan yung simpleng pangalan natin may malalim palang kahulugan.
As I reflect on my name, I realize it is more than just a word people use to call me. It is also a reminder of my Christian identity. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 43:1 โ โ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ; ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ค๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ, ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ.โ What a beautiful promise from God. It reminds me that before anyone else called me Dante, it was God who first called me His child.
Dante, meaning steadfast, also reminds me to live a life that is firm in faith, enduring in trials, and steadfast in hope. Just as Dante Alighieri wrote about the journey of sin, redemption, and the afterlife, I too am on my own journey with God โ trusting that His grace leads me toward eternal life.
So, whatโs in a name? For me, itโs not just about identity, but also about purpose. My name is both a gift and a calling. Itโs a constant reminder to live up to its meaning โ to endure, to stand firm, and to walk faithfully with the Lord.
And every time someone calls me Dan, Kuya Dan, or Dante, I smile โ because I know, in Godโs eyes, I am more than just a name. I am His beloved.
#GOTOย #GodOfTheOrdinary
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