"Remember Me?"

By Robert Bailes


Remembering is a skill. Sure, there are those who have been blessed with a great memory...such as:
Napoleon- who knew thousands of his solders by name. . . or
James Farley- who claimed he knew 50,000 people by their first name. . . or
Charles Schwab- who knew the names of all 8,000 of his employees at Homestead Mill. . . or
Charles W. Eliot- who, during his forty years as president of Harvard, earned a reputation of knowing all the students by name each year.



But these, remember, are exceptions-phenomenal exceptions. As I first stated, however, remembering is a skill, like speaking in public, singing, reading, thinking, or swimming. We improve at a skill by hard work, direct effort applied with a good deal of concentration, mixed with proper know-how. You could safely say that people with remarkable memories developed them because of a driving need or desire.

Many people use the excuse that they just aren't good with names, but the truth is that almost everyone can remember names with some effort. There are three things I have learned that will help us remember some one's name.

The first thing that we should do is to take a few seconds when we first meet someone to hear their name and focus entirely on their greeting without interruption of things going on around us. Upon hearing the name, say it several times or even spell it, not out loud of course, but in your mind. You can even ask of the proper spelling is. . . ? They will realize that you are making an effort to remember and this is important when we make new friends.

The second thing we need to do is to associate their name with something, like a word that rhymes or something that funny that we will remember next time we see that person. For example the name "Pop" could remind us of "cop" and you could envision him in a cop outfit. Another example is "Cody" and picture him singing an "oldie" song from the past.

The third thing to do is to use their name in the conversation while talking to them. Use it as many times as possible, maybe even introducing them to other friends close by or family members. This let's them know also that you have allowed a niche to be planted in your memory of their name. To all of us humans, that's pretty important.

God also knows that names were so important that He recorded hundreds of them in the inspired Word of God. There were many names that were even changed by God Himself, such as Saul to Paul, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter and what about the angels firm command, "You shall call his name Jesus!".

When the eternal books are open, earthly names will be read. Look at chapters twenty and twenty-one of Revelations with me,

Revelations 20:15
And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelations 21:27
And anything common and he who makes an abomination and a lie shall by no means enter into it, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

When we are taken by our Lord into heaven, new names will be given to each one. See what Revelations 2 says in verse seventeen.

He who has an ear,let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give a white stone and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it.

If the Lord thinks enough of our names to actually record each one in His records, shouldn't we take the effort to remember the names of those we meet along life's journey? Of course, that means that we must consider each person we meet of enough importance to remember them! It is not enough to just speak to people in passing and never take a genuine interest in them as a person. Learn a few things of importance about that man or woman and pray for their needs! You'll never forget them and they will always remember that you cared enough to ask.