Days after our firstborn came home we had to rush my wife back to hospital for emergency surgery.

After taking my wife to the hospital I took my son to a nurse friend to care for him. I returned to my home fearful and very lonely.

As I looked around our empty home with the decorations I had put up to celebrate the arrival of our son and our new roles as parents, I felt very much alone and anxious.

Then the phone rang and when the caller said his name, I suddenly felt a great sense of relief.

He was our family physician, and he was well regarded as an outstanding doctor in the medical community.

As soon as he identified himself, I knew we were in good hands. Merely saying his name and before he told me anything I was at peace.

The mere mention of a name can bring fear or peace.

The many wonderful names for our beloved Good Shepherd causes our attitude to become hopeful, peaceful, joyful and so on.

As you read the following hymn may your fears disappear at the sounds of these glorious names that mean everything to us.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear Name! the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never-failing Treas’ry filled
With boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.

- John Newton