Say Their Name, Say Their Name

From several posts ago you may remember me mentioning a harsh conversation I had with a girl in middle school who I believed was abusing her abilities by not applying herself in gym class, when I could hardly participate. You may also remember that to this day I have no idea or recollection of what her name was. This points to two serious flaws in my personal behavior.

1. That in this instance (and certainly others) I never took the time to get to know this girl and her situation before I made a judgment on her behavior.
2. That I do not consistently work to remember everyone’s name, a simple act that means a great deal to all of us.

If I’m not mistaken, I believe we can all relate to this failure to know people and know them by name. And we don’t really think it’s that big of a deal most of the time. How can we be expected to know everyone? But, it is in fact a big deal! Personally, it’s something that I want to change for the simple reason that it’s not Christlike. God is an intimate Father and knows every single one of us deeply. Jesus, the Son of God, knew the name of everyone He encountered. I am called to be an imitator of my Savior so I want to do my best to do the same.

Obviously it’s impossible for us to perfectly pull this off because we are not all-knowing as the Lord is, but there are ways we can make it a priority of ours. I am making the following practices personal goals of mine.

1. Addressing everyone I know by name.
2. Doing whatever it takes to learn the names of people I know, but don’t know their names.
3. Making a better effort to approach and get to know strangers.

The purpose is to show greater love to all and cause myself to be slower to false judgement. I figure it’s a pretty easy way to accomplish those aims, so I’m gonna get to it! Feel free to follow suit!

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” – John‬ ‭10:14-15‬

“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”” – Luke‬ ‭19:5‬

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us…” – ‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-2‬