SAY MY NAME

By: Jill Lang

Jill. Jilly. Jillybean. JillLang (purposely run together); you would be lying if you said you didnt enjoy hearing the sound of your own name.  Some especially love hearing the sound of their own voice, but that's an entirely separate topic...

Your name, it's yours, unique to you - special.  Many of us confess we are poor at remembering the names of those we've just met.  But you must admit you feel so honored when someone you hardly know remembers your name.  Can you recall the last time someone called your name out to you in a public place or said "Aren't you (your name here)l?"  My husband and I have been together for over 20 years and he calls me Babe, Hon or even Sweetpea, but nothing melts my heart more than when he looks me in the eye and calls me Jill.

There's power in our words.  There's power in a name.  In Bible days names were given to children that described the child or their future.  I happen to believe when we use a person's birth name we speak to something deep inside of them and it speaks life.  In this super rushed, self-absorbed society, we rarely ever pause long enough to even look people in the eye, let alone learn and use their name.

I take group exercise classes at the local YMCA and the most popular instructor there, no matter what class she teaches, knows everyone's name. It amazes me. .  In a spin class of over 30 people she yells from her bike "lookin' good Bob!" or, "thanks for coming today, Jen!".  So why is she so popular?  Because she makes people feel special! I dare you to try it the next time you're at the grocery checkout or when you're ordering food.  Use the person's nametag to address them or ask how their day is.  When you use a person's name, watch their eyes light up.  It's powerful. Why so powerful?  And do you want to touch people in that subtle yet deeply moving way? I tend to believe it's so influential and speaks deeply to us because it's God-like.  David, the famous songwriter of the Bible says this, "O Lord you have searched me and you know me..." Isn't that what we all secretly want?  To be known and understood?

Start today by knowing and using someone's name; your children, your spouse, the person who takes your order at Starbucks every morning.   There's nothing sweeter...