A Forgotten Name and an Important Reminder About God
That first time a coffee shop barista calls me by name, it’s always memorable for me. (And honestly, sometimes embarrassing. Ha!) But when that worker looks at me and says my name as she takes and/or hands me my order, it’s a sign that she cares enough to remember who I am. I’ve been in that coffee shop enough that the workers know me! In this specific situation, sometimes I feel sheepish because it signifies that I’ve been to that coffee shop too many times, perhaps. But in general, it makes us feel good to be seen—to be known.
I experience this in my relationships with students all the time. And ya know what? Even at a young age, students can tell whether or not their teachers truly know them. I do my best to greet each student by name when he/she walks in my classroom door every day. I also love interacting with them in the school hallways even after they’re not on my official class roster anymore.
But every so often, names do slip my mind… Maybe it’s a student who I had several years ago, or maybe it’s a student who was only in my class for a fleeting four-week summer school session. I promise I never forget a face! But sometimes, the name of a student who I had long ago or only for a few weeks escapes my memory. Sooo I use the generic, “Hi! How are you?” …as a greeting. Most of the time, that suffices.
But just yesterday, apparently I used a generic greeting one too many times with a particular student. She is a sweet girl who’s now in upper elementary, and I had her for one four-week summer school class five years ago. I know her face anywhere, but her name was no longer at the front of my mind. Apparently it had been too long since I’d actually said her name because when I told her to “have a good evening,” as she walked past me toward her bus after school yesterday, she stopped. “Do you remember my name?” she asked. Ughhh BUSTED.
I panicked for a quick minute! And then I did the best I could. I did correctly identify the first letter of her name, and that made her happy enough. She kindly reminded of her name, and I will absolutely call her by name when she passes by me in the hallway today after school.
And just to redeem myself before I go any further, most of the time I do remember past students’ names! One time I saw a former student in the grocery store… She had been in my class about 10 years prior. I greeted her with a smile and a hug, and she immediately said, “What’s my name?” That girl wanted to make sure that I knew her and remembered exactly who she was. I said, “Jasmine! Of course I remember your name!” (Then I threw up a quick “thank you” to God for bringing her name to my mind so quickly. Ha!)
Anyway, names are important as a teacher if you have any hopes of building meaningful relationships with students. As you and God build a meaningful relationship with one another, what kinds of things do you hope that He knows about you? Better yet, what kinds of things does He know about you? The Bible graciously provides us the answer to this question.
God knows when you sit down and when you stand up. – You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. -Psalm 139:1-2
He knows the number of hairs on your head. – And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. -Matthew 10:30
He knew you before your conception. – Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. -Jeremiah 1:5a
God knows your future. – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
He knows what you need before you even ask Him for it. – For your Father knows what you need before you ask him. -Matthew 6:8b
You can be assured that Jesus knows you—personally, intimately, deeply. He doesn’t just know of you, and He doesn’t just recognize your face. He knows your name, He knows your thoughts, He knows your needs and He knows your heart. Remember, He is the one who created you in the first place. As your creator, He also knows exactly what He made you to do.
I do have students check me every so often to make sure I remember their names, but we never need to do that with our Creator God. Can you even imagine? …quizzing God about yourself? Lord, do you remember my name? What job do I have? Are you watching close enough to know? God, have you been keeping track of my spiritual growth? Did you see that I got Employee of the Month? Would you mind catching back up on my relationship drama so you can help me know how to move forward?
NEVER do you need to ask God questions like those. He knows everything about you, and while that may make you feel uneasy at times, hopefully it mostly fills you with peace, love and joy.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” -John 10:14