Extraordinarily Unforgettable

by Kelly Wilson Mize

I work as a librarian at a Christian elementary school. One of the beautiful things about my job is that I get to know and spend time with every child in the school. Not just one class, but all of them. With well over 200 students, though, I sometimes get the children’s names wrong, especially at the beginning of the year. And let me tell you, those children expect me to know their names, and are quite offended when I call them by the wrong one. The youngest students, in their egocentric stage of development, can’t possibly imagine how I could not know and speak their names perfectly every time. When I call a child by the wrong name, I always sincerely apologize and explain that I have many, many names to remember, and that even though I spoke the wrong one, I know who each child is.

 

In all fairness, the kids sometimes get my name wrong too. I am almost daily called by a classroom teacher’s name, or mixed up with another specialist. And of course I am mistakenly called “Mom” every so often. It happens. We humans have a lot of people to keep straight, many identities to remember throughout a lifetime. And sometimes we forget…

 

Have you ever unexpectedly run into someone of whom you had vivid memories, only to realize that person didn’t even remember you? It has happened to me twice in my life (that I know of), and I have not yet completely recovered from the pain I felt when I realized that I had played such an insignificant role in the lives of those individuals that they had actually forgotten me.

 

How could they NOT. REMEMBER. ME?

 

In both cases, every ounce of insecurity I’d ever felt about myself (and there was plenty!) had been both confirmed and magnified. Sure, either or both of my old friends could have had an undiagnosed memory disorder, or they could have been lying—or I could have changed so much for the better that they could no longer recognize me physically. But chances are that I made so miniscule an impression on them that they forgot I ever existed. Ouch.

 

No one likes to be invisible or forgotten, but we all feel that way sometimes, and it hurts.

 

Remember the theme song lyrics from the 80’s TV show, Cheers, “…Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name; and they’re always glad you came…”? Truer words have never been spoken—or sung. Being with people who know us and love us is pleasant, comforting, and even therapeutic.

 

Who knows you best? Your spouse, your parents, your best friend?

 

God knows you better than anyone else ever could. It’s sometimes almost impossible for me to grasp the idea that our God knows ALL his children personally. He knows us so well that He never forgets who we are, gets us mixed up with someone else, or calls us by the wrong name. All of our hopes and dreams, all of our proud moments, and our ugly dysfunction: He knows us.

 

And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.

Isaiah 45:3

 

Not only does He know us better than anyone else, His word says we are enormously valuable to him.

 

What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Luke 12:6-8

 

 

We are known by our names, and to our Heavenly Father, those names are distinctive and unique. He doesn’t compare us to His other children the way we compare ourselves to one another.

 

So even though your name may never be in lights, on the big screen, announced over a loud-speaker or even on the A/B honor roll, the Bible says that when you know God, your name will never be forgotten. It is securely published in the Lamb’s Book of Life. What greater recognition could be possible?

 

Can you hear God calling you by your name? Can you see the look of joyful recognition in His all-knowing eyes? Listen carefully and look closely. He knew you before your oldest friend did, even before your parents and siblings. He loves you more than any of them ever could. To Him:

 

You are extraordinary.

You are treasured.

You are unforgettable.

 

The Creator of the universe knows your name.

 

Just like my library students expect me to know their names, we can expect God to remember ours. Because He promised He would. And unlike a fallible, mortal teacher, He is perfectly capable of limitless knowledge, understanding, and memory. His capacity to know and love is infinite. Every single time we raise our hands for help, we can be assured that He will “call on us” to be heard. He will answer our questions and concerns, recognizing us and referring to us by our names. We will never be invisible or forgotten.

 

As Believers, may it be our highest priority to spend adequate time with our loving God so that we can get to know Him as personally as He knows each one of us. May we cherish and never forget the One who was elevated to the place of highest honor and given THE NAME above all other names (Philippians 2:9).

Kelly Wilson Mize considers it a personal, God-given mission to encourage others with words. She is a wife, mother of two teenagers, librarian at Westminster Christian Academy, and freelance writer who has lived in the Huntsville area for over twenty years. Kelly has a master’s degree in elementary education, and over a decade of teaching experience in both private and public schools. She also has a variety of published writing experience including numerous articles and interviews, various curriculum projects, hundreds of devotions for both children and adults, and contributions to six books. Kelly’s credits include LifeWay Christian Resources, Focus on the Family, Adams Media, Group Publishing, and The Huntsville Times. In addition, Kelly recently became an approved editor for the Christian Editor Connection network and is a member of the Christian Pen. Visit Kelly’s author page: https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Wilson-Mize/e/B0142BUHW8 and follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/kellywilsonmize.

Tags: God In Our City, Kelly Wilson Mize, Our City On A Hill