What’s Your Name

This is Thursday morning and I’m at my Radiology desk at Children’s Hospital where I weekly serve as a volunteer. Besides patients and their families, many medical, housekeeping and admin personnel pass my desk. I typically greet everyone with a cheery “Good Morning! How are you?” But, this day I sense that’s not enough. These people have names and I need to call them by name when they pass by. They need to know I care and I know they are special and appreciated. “I’m taking this up a notch,” I thought. So each person, including the doctors, hear, “Good Morning! What’s your name? My name is Donna.” Each one tells me their name and some even stop to carry on a little conversation. An x-ray tech stops and asks me what I do besides volunteering. I give her a mini-version of my life and testimony! Then, she tells me hers. We find out we are heart-and-soul-sisters! All because I take the time to ask her name. A gal from Admin says “Nice to meet you, Donna. Thank you so much for serving. We really appreciate you.” A security guard that I met last week, comes by to chat a few minutes and tells me about a death in the family yesterday. We talk about how to comfort the family. It really matters when others matter.

As each person walks away after our exchange, I write down their name and their department. Now, dear Lord, please help me remember which face goes to which names. Whew!

When I see a crowd, I see exactly that – a crowd. A mass of people. But not so with God. To Him every face is different. Every face is a story. Every face is His child. Every child has a name. Our Lord sees us. He knows each one of us by name. I looked around me purposely yesterday. I didn’t see just a mass of people. I saw faces that I want to know better and truly appreciate. No doubt, I’ll have to keep working at knowing them all by name.

That’s not with God. He says in Isaiah 49:16: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Amazing! “Engraved” means cannot be taken off. Our name is on God’s hand.

Perhaps today you feel overlooked. No one asks for your name. It seems no one cares. You can’t remember the last time someone mentioned your name with kindness. If so, it may be difficult for you to believe that God knows your name. Maybe start planting “name” seeds. You be the one to reach out and ask someone’s name. The harvest could be limitless.

The truth is, God does know your name and it’s written on His hand. Spoken by His mouth. He knows all about you. He made you. How comforting to know that out of all the billions of people in this world: past – present – and future, God knows all of us by name. He has no problem matching up faces to names. We matter so much to God that He called us by name. In Isaiah 43:1 God says, “I have called you by name, you are mine.” In this scripture, He called and chose us and reminded us that we belong to Him. We are His, forever. It’s more sacred and more lasting than any family name. It’s the ultimate promise from God. You and your name matter. He sees you and has not forgotten you. Rest in His love for you. Your name is on His lips. Is His name on yours?