I have two amazing sisters. When we were kids people would often get us confused. It was not uncommon for me to be called by my sister’s names by those who “knew” us. Sometimes we were even collectively referred to as “the Gardner girls” (Gardner was my maiden name). The worst was when we had a family photo for the church directory and they didn’t even bother printing our names.
It has always been important to me to be known by my name.
Sure, I have an unusual name and it’s been pronounced and/or spelled as; Janice, Tennis, and the most recent horror, Tan-dis. Is this better than not being known at all? I think it’s about the same level of disconnect. Not long ago I attended a women’s group and stopped going after 5 months because no one knew my name, even after I went to great lengths to get to know other people.
I’m not here to be anonymous. I believe we have an innate sense to be seen, heard, and valued for OUR identity, not for who we’re associated with or what we’ve done.
There was a woman who got pregnant by her boss, then fired by his wife, and thrown out into the wild to survive on her own. She was destitute and alone, and yet, God saw her in her pain and spoke hope to her situation (you can read the story in Genesis 16). God saw her and He sees you.
Maybe you need to hear this today. YOU ARE SEEN, HEARD, AND VALUED.
You are not anonymous. God knows your name. He sees you. He hears you. Press into that truth today. You matter, dear friend.
