The Name That Remained
Of all Moshe's names, the Torah and Hashem used only the one Basya gave him, as a reward for her kindness.
Moshe Rabbeinu had many names. Chazal find them in Divrei HaYamim and elsewhere: Yered, Chever, Yekusiel, Avi Gedor, Tuvyah, Shemayah and more, each describing a side of his greatness. Yet throughout the Torah he is called by one name only, Moshe, the name that Basya gave him when she said she had drawn him from the water. The Midrash in Shemos Rabbah says that from here we learn the reward of those who do kindness. Even Hashem called him by no other name; Vayikra Rabbah adds that when He called to Moshe from the Ohel Moed, it was by the name Bisya bas Pharaoh had chosen. One act of compassion at the river became the name by which the giver of the Torah is known forever.
Source: Shemos Rabbah 1:26 (on Shemos 2:10); Vayikra Rabbah 1:3 (on Vayikra 1:1)
Basya's name for Moshe recalled the kindness she had done, and it stayed with him forever. Words we give people can last that long. This week, give someone a lasting word: tell a child what you saw them do well and name the quality, such as honest, generous or brave. Write a short note of thanks to someone who helped you years ago. Choose your words with care. What you call people can become part of who they are.