Small Kindnesses

January 31, 2017

Day 31:  He Knows Us By Name:
"The Lord replied to Moses, 'I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you and I know you by name.'" —Exodus 33:17

Dr. Anderson starts today's entry with a story about a woman named Grace.  Grace had been a patient of Dr. Anderson's for a long time and no longer considered him just her family doctor.  He was family.  Grace knew the names of everyone in the office and everyone knew Grace.  Anderson considered it a great privilege "to be invited into the inner circle" of Grace's life. He was "honored to share [his patients'] journeys with them."  He uses the story of Grace to encourage us to "look favorably" upon people that we meet and to learn their names.

We might think that it's not a big deal, but knowing people by name is one way that we can be encouraging and show that we care.  I know that I appreciate when someone remembers my name.  I don't fault them if they don't, but it is nice when they do.  As a teacher, learning students' names was one of my first priorities.  Within the first three days of school I would try to have everyone's name memorized (average 160 kids) so when I saw them in class or in the hallway, I could use their name. I also used to stand by my door and shake everyone's hand when they entered, giving a smile to each kid and welcoming them to class.

Even when we don't know someone by name, we can be welcoming by just giving a smile.  I notice sometimes that I avoid eye contact with people.  I am in my own little world.  Since moving to Colorado, I have made a conscious effort to look up more and smile at people I meet—neighbors, people in stores, people I see at the gym in passing.  I have also made more of an effort to look directly at waitstaff and cashiers.  I don't know why, but I tend to look down at the ground or at the table, or at the register conveyer belt or card machine, or past people.  I catch myself doing it and remind myself to look up at the person and really see them.  It doesn't take much effort to look into someone's eyes and offer them a smile.

As we navigate the next four years, I think small kindnesses are going to be especially important.