In the brick wall of a big old house in northern England lies a secret. It’s been lying there quietly for over forty years, undisturbed, just waiting to be discovered. The secret is a small piece of paper- folded carefully, and most probably faded. If you were to find it, and unfold it, you would see a name. It is mine.
I was about ten years old when I wrote my name on that piece of paper and stuffed it in between the bricks of my bedroom wall. I wanted it to be found, years and years later, by someone who would wonder about me: who I was; where I was; and what I was doing now.
I wanted to be known.
I’ll never forget the day, not too long ago. when I sat with my son to watch the little one minute video, created by Zondervan, to promote my first children’s book. I remember squealing with delight as my name floated into view.
That’s me! That’s my name! I shrieked.
Even more exciting was the day I saw my name written in bold font, proudly displayed on the front cover of the book.
And only two weeks ago, on a golden October morning, I was thrilled to add my name to the visitor list at HarperCollins publishers, and even more thrilled to see the name of Lee Strobel written above mine.
And I think about my need, our human need for our names to be known, our names to be recognized; our presence to be heard in this world.
I think about all the names carved on benches in parks, and on trunks of trees; on public walls, and inside prison cells. I think of the names we discovered on our living room walls in England, hidden beneath wallpaper, scratched years ago, alongside faded potato prints that were used to decorate homes during the scarcity days of the second world war.
And how our names, etched and carved and written in a myriad of ways, and in a myriad of places, all say:
I was here.
We all yearn to be known.
And we are.
My name, your name is recorded in a far more wonderful way, and in a far more wonderful place than one written on a piece of paper hidden in a cavity; or one carved on a tree trunk; or one printed on the cover of a book.
Paper disintegrates. Trees are felled. Books go out of print.
But somewhere, in a marvelous and mysterious place that no eye has ever seen, written in permanent, never-to-fade, glorious, indelible, and eternal ink- is your name.
It is written forever on the palm of One who knew you before you were even born.
I am known.
You are known.
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Hi Glenys –
Wonderful post! It’s a marvelous thing to consider that the God of the universe loves me and knows my name.
God bless,
Susan 🙂
Thank you so much Susan! Bless you for commenting!
So true. We all try to find meaning and our place in this world. What we realize later on is that we mean so much already. :D. Be happy with yourself and all will fall into its right place.
That’s right Natalie 🙂
Glenys, would that have been inside that strange little cubby hole high up in the wall of the little bedroom? I looked in there when we emptied the house, couldn’t find anything. I looked because I remember you hiding something in there 🙂 It’s been closed up now I think so the message will stay hidden. How beautifully romantic! 🙂 x
Yes! That’s where it is! I remember trying to get it out several times but I never could, because I pushed it in really deep. How funny that you looked for it too! I do still wonder about it…and if it will be found one day.
Beautiful post! I love how you can take ordinary events and make them into extraordinary lessons. Yes, I believe our greatest human wound is feeling insignificant and unloved. Thanks for once again pointing us to the one who is Love!!!
Oh thank you so much Sandra, for filling my bucket today!
How awesome and true. We all yearned to be known. How awesome is it that the One who knows our name also knows our hurts habits and hangups? That my name is written in the palm of a nailed scarred hand, gives me the validation that I need to continue to be who He made me to be. Bless you!
Wow Gigi! I love it that you made reference to the same hand that took the nails has our names on it! Bless you for commenting!
Glenys,
Beautiful! Great reminder that God knows and loves us.
Such a beautiful truth and a reminder that we seem to need often…since we so easily forget.
We do forget Kathy! Thank you so much for commenting!