Somebody Who Always Knows Your Name

At the Nursing Home where we do chapel services on Sunday mornings, there has been a change in schedule. After the services, we have been helping the residents down the hall to the Dining Room, but now lunch is not served for an hour or more after church. Instead of each going to their own room, many of the residents wait in the Activities Room across the hall from the Dining Room.

One of the ladies was obviously not comfortable with the change in the schedule. She was becoming more and more agitated, but was unable to clearly articulate exactly what it was she wanted. Finally, in desperation, she said, "I don't think you know who I am!"

I tried my best to console her, and to reassure her that she was just across the hall from where she wanted to be. One of the other residents wheeled herself near to this dear lady and told her, "I'll sit here with you and take care of you until it's time to go to lunch." What a sweetheart!

But the statement, "I don't think you know who I am!" stuck in my mind. We all want to be recognized, perhaps not for doing great things, or even little things, but at least for being ourselves. Can't you remember sometime when you saw someone you knew and you were waiting for them to recognize you. . .and they didn't? It hurts not to be recognized, to be overlooked, to be forgotten. There used to be a television show with the theme song which went, "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. . .and they're always glad you came!"

The most wonderful thing is there is One who has never overlooked us, who has never forgotten us, who always knows our name. And He is always, always glad when we turn our thoughts, our words, our attention toward Him.

I was at work the other day and one of the nurses called out my name for help. Now this happens quite frequently at work. Immediately I knew which nurse had called out, where she was and I was able to head right to her to help.

That is how our Lord is, we don't have to introduce ourselves to Him. I don't have to start a prayer with, "Lord, this is Frannie." He knows. He knows exactly who we are and where we are. He even knows the precise details of our circumstances better than we do, for He knows the hearts of everyone involved. He knows us, He really knows us. He has not forgotten "who we are."

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;

and He knoweth them that trust in Him."

Nahum 1:7