There is a very shy greeter at our local grocery store. I used to call her the “whispering lady” because whenever she greeted people, she would talk so quietly that you could hardly even hear her. I wondered how many people just walk past her every day, barely even recognizing she is there? I decided to be very friendly and try to help her feel “seen”.
Months ago, I learned her name from her name tag. I started saying “hi Robin” to her whenever I saw her at the store. She is now very friendly whenever she sees me coming into the store. When I mentioned how cold it was the other day, she responded with a full sentence about upcoming weather. I think she felt “seen”.
Our names are our identity that follow us through life. When others know our name and say it with a smile, we are no longer just a person in a sea of people, but we are somebody they know. Addressing each other by our names makes a connection between us.
Think about a gathering with multiple families. If a child calls out “Mommy”, The right mother responses. She knows the voice of her child and they know her name, Mommy. Later in life, even when they know her given name, her name to them is still Mom, setting her apart from all other mothers they know.
A friend told me he watched a show talking about the connection that happens when you call somebody by their name. That connection takes us a step closer on the relationship ladder. They are not just a face in a sea of faces, but they are a person you know.
One of the most dramatic examples of the effect of saying a person’s name in Scripture is Jesus’ encounter with Mary by the empty tomb. As soon as Jesus called her by name, “Mary”, she recognized Him (John 20:16). The familiar voice saying her name in the same loving tone.
Our names are chosen for us by our parents at birth. As we grow, we settle in on what people closest to us call us. My given name is Thomas. I was called Tommy during my younger years, but I have settled in on my name being Tom. Thomas or Tommy feels awkward to me now.
There are many songs about people’s names. There are many songs in Christian music that are based on the names of Jesus. They define for us our relationship with Him. Here are lyrics from a favorite of mine, There’s Something About That Name, by Bill Gather. It speaks to my heart.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there’s just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there’s something about that name.
Saying His name brings me peace and comfort in this hard, cold world. Praise His Name.
Christian Life Coach 