This book is all about being a friend of Jesus, learning to walk through life with Him, talk to Him, and share our hearts with Him. As I prayed and reflected, I thought about the people in the Bible who were truly close to Jesus. That's when Mary Magdalene came to my heart a woman who loved Jesus deeply and faithfully, one of His closest friends while He was on the earth.
Her story reminded me of the beauty of real friendship with Jesus - honest, loyal, and full of love.
So I named the little girl Mary as a quiet way to honor that sacred friendship, and to remind every child (and every grown-up) that we, too, can be that close to Jesus.