April 10, 2021

Is it Connie? Or Constance? Or Corny? By Connie Mae Inglis

Your hands made me and formed me. –Ps. 119:73a

“Connie? Is your name short for Constance?” 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to answer that question. The answer is, “No, just Connie.” 

And there it is—just Connie. Nothing unique about my name, right?

In order to make sure that was true, I recently asked my mother again about where she and my dad got my name. She said they found it in a baby book of names that Dad had bought when they were hunting for a name for my older sister, Lovella. They saw the name “Connie” and liked it. Again, nothing unusual. 

BUT, there was more.

Both my parents grew up in strong Mennonite communities, my mother especially so. Communities where people had either Bible names or hand-me-down names from past relatives. Names like Michael or Maria, Gerhard or Justina, Reuben (my dad’s name) or Elizabeth (my mom’s name). 

Even when I was born, my grandma misunderstood and tweaked my name from Connie to Corny (short for Cornelius). She thought I was a boy, named after a relative. Throughout my childhood, we laughed about that as a family. I was an easy-going kid. I knew the gentle, but very Low-German, ways of my grandma. I just laughed along. Not Corny. Just Connie.

But not just Connie. 

You see, when my parents got married and started having children, they both knew they wanted to choose names for their children that were outside of the heritage norm. Names that weren’t like any they’d heard growing up. That didn’t mean they were turning their back on their Christian faith or their heritage. Far from it. I grew up in a strong Christian home and we faithfully attended the Mennonite Brethren Church, a country church outside the town of Borden. 

But my parents wanted something different for us. They had seven children and none of us have Mennonite-sounding or Bible names: Lovella, Connie, Tammy, Holly, Roxanne, Kimberly and Scott. 

Even my middle name is unusual in its spelling: Mae. 

Connie Mae. I like that. I like knowing that my name was thought about—that it was outside the norm. No offense to the all the people out there who have a Mennonite name because of their heritage, but I like knowing that there’s a unique story behind my name. 

I started this blog post with half of a verse. But there is more:

Your hands made me and formed me. Give me understanding so that I might learn your commands. Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me, for I find hope in your word. –Ps. 119:73,74

In God, I too am unique. Not just in my name. I have a unique calling to be ALL God wants me to be because nobody else can fill my shoes. Nobody else can offer the world hope in the same way that God leads me to. That is both a challenge and a joy. 

To God be the glory!

18 comments:

  1. thanks for this post, Connie. I really liked the way you spoke to us about the uniqueness of each one of us. Blessings, friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, I guess I should've re-sent my photo and info. For anyone that's interested, my website is titled "A Curious Hope" and you can find me@ conniemaeinglis.ca

      Delete
  2. I delighted in your story with its winding trail that leads us to your last paragraph and those thrilling words: "I have a unique calling to be ALL God wants me to be because nobody else can fill my shoes. Nobody else can offer the world hope in the same way that God leads me to." Lovely!

    I so enjoyed learning about your name, Connie. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Cons, this is great! I used to wish Mom and Dad had given me a more "common" name--one that wasn't so frequently misspelled or mispronounced! But now I am thankful for the unique name I was given. I also didn't know that about our parents having a discussion about giving us names outside the norm of the norm for our heritage. Interesting. I love how you tied our names to the idea that each of us is uniquely created by God for a specific purpose!❤

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I hadn't really thought about ALL our names being outside the norm until I listed them. I LOVE your name, Big Sis, cuz I love you!!!

      Delete
  4. My name is not outside the norm. I'm pretty sure there are thousands of Kim's born in the late 60's and early 70's. My middle name, Renae--yes, that's out of the norm and I so often wish it were my first name instead of my middle name. I also had no idea they were intentionally being outside the norm when choosing names. I loved your verse and connection. It doesn't matter what my given name is, really--I am a daughter of the King and that is amazing. That is where my identity lies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup, you're so right. I know you've always wished your first name was Renae, but I like the name Kim or Kimmy, because that's who I know and that's who I love as your sister.

      Delete
  5. You do give the world hope in a very unique way, Connie, not Corny! Our daughter’s middle name is also Mae,
    Pam M

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, our unique callings go beyond our names--as normal as they made sound to us, we made in His image and for each of us for His unique purpose!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup. Nothing normal when you're a child of God!!!

      Delete
  7. Great story, Connie, and I'm glad to hear from you. I've been praying for you each day as for Doug and Witcliff Bible Translators.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your prayers, Bruce. We appreciate them. A weird world to navigate these days.

      Delete
  8. How wonderful that your parents chose original names. Sometimes I sit in a foodcourt and watch the people wander by, amazed at the uniqueness of each individual. Just like Biblical or family names, purposefully choosing different names is another way of giving honour to our diversely creative Father. Thanks, Connie!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Sharon. Purposeful choosing. I like that.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your story of being called by a different name brought back memories of what my mom told me. Her parents called her Amelia Mae, but her dad always said, "Amelda," so her mom simply started calling her Mae. One of my great-nieces is named after Mom--Chelsea Mae. Yes, how important we are to God, even with name mixups!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to join in the conversation. Our writers appreciate receiving your feedback on posts you have found helpful or meaningful in some way.