Remember Names

Remember Names

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:3

Many people share a common problem: They cannot remember names. It is annoying to look into the eyes of people you know and suddenly go blank. You know you should remember, but you cannot recall their names even if your life depended on it. It is not only frustrating; it can also be embarrassing.

Individuals use many different tricks to try to jar their memories. I go through the alphabet, searching for a reminder of the first name by its first letter. Maybe the name will be triggered by something special, such as a color: brown. His last name is Brown.

It causes real trouble for pastors when they are unable to remember names of church members because they may be offended. Visitors also like the special recognition of being called by name. Leaders in the church deal with a real handicap when their memories fail them.

Our church members knew very well that our loving pastor frequently forgot names. We overlooked that flaw and appreciated his honesty about the situation. One Sunday as I sat in the choir facing the congregation, the pastor began to share something involving his wife. And, you guessed it, he forgot her name! I could see only the back of the pastor’s head, but embarrassment turned it beet red.

Smiles and laughter filled the church. This time he really needed help, and nobody came to his rescue. He would, no doubt, face the wrath of Zelma when they got home. Aren’t you glad that God never forgets your name?

—Pam Ford Davis

Lord, thank you for calling me by name. Help me to recall the names of your children and especially to always honor your name. Amen.