Remembering Names

“Remember that a man’s name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
– Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

For the past couple of weeks, I have started my new job as a Peer Mentor through BYU’s Freshman Mentoring program.   As soon as I came to BYU a year ago and met my peer mentor, I knew it was a job I would love participating in.  Being a mentor at Chandler Prep and being the oldest of seven children, I have always found myself in that “mentor” role.  I’m an Anthropology major, so I love to meet people, get to know them, and understand them.

Getting ready for New Student Orientation brought some anxiety but mostly excitement.  I had been training to meet these students for so long, and I finally got to meet them and get to know them!  And once I did, everything became so tangible.  Names became faces, and the real work began.

Now, something I don’t like to admit – I can’t remember names.  I will recognize so many faces around campus – of people I’ve never even met.  I have a favorite couple I see walking around everywhere, but they probably have no idea who I am.  She works in the Science and Maps section of the library, and they’re quite adorable.  I know their faces, but I could never tell you their names.  With this lack of a gift that I have, I was worried about NSO.  For the days before it, I kept praying that I could remember names.  I still keep praying for that.  Because “a man’s name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”

I mean, honestly, if someone calls me by my name, I feel valued.  They know my name; they remember me.  And I would hate to make someone feel like they are not valued by not remembering their name.  And guess what?  I am remembering names so much more now!  A simple prayer that has been answered and has strengthened me.

God knows each of us by name.  He can name all of his children by name.  Jesus Christ suffered for each of us individually.  He knows our name, our deepest fears, our happiest joys, and our hardest trials.  My burdens are His burdens.  And when I can’t sleep at night when I’m thinking about my students, because I care so much about them already, I know Christ has mine and their burdens too.  I love Him, and I am eternally grateful that He will forever know my name.

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