I saw a minister friend that I’ve known only casually and had not seen for months. It was surprising to me how pleased I was that he remembered my name.
Every year, some kind souls send birthday cards to me to remind me how old I’m getting. One of them came faithfully, until her death, from a dear lady with whom I shared an office many years ago. I saw her only rarely, but she always remembered my birthday. I like that. It is nice to be remembered.
My wife, the kindergarten teacher, is always touched when a graduating senior comes by to thank her for her role in his life 13 years earlier. It’s nice to be remembered.
But sometimes we feel forgotten. At times, it seems that all is going awry and that we are all alone in our suffering. Nobody seems to care; nobody seems to remember.
Christina Miller tells of the birth of her second child. After a long, difficult labor, both she and her husband were relieved when their daughter was finally born. The new dad was tenderly holding his little girl. Tears glistened in his eyes as he looked up at Christina. She expected him to say something sweetly poetic, but instead he asked, “What’s her name again?”
Sometimes we feel like that little girl; we feel like no one remembers our name. But One does. A very important one always remembers you. He knows your name. He cares about your problems.
Speaking for God to his people, Isaiah raised a question, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast, and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” (Isaiah 49:15). Of course, that does happen in extreme cases, but it’s rare. We expect mothers to remember and care for their children.
But Isaiah wasn’t primarily interested in motherly love. He was telling of a Fatherly love. “Though she may forget, I will not forget you,” God insists. To assure us that he will remember, he adds, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16).
Amazing! The Creator of the universe has my name written on the palm of his hand. And yours, too! To make sure he remembers us daily, he has our name listed as a constant reminder.
Isn’t it nice to be remembered!

A Word from Williams Road is provided by the Williams Road Church.