Over the years, I have kept the same address book, a quaint and archaic practice for sure in this highly digitized world. To accommodate my more transient friends and family, all the entries are in pencil, and many bear the scuff marks of frequent erasures.
This year, as I was addressing our Christmas letters, I noticed the names of the missing—so many friends and family who would be celebrating Christmas in the presence of the Lord and would not require a greeting from the Morins to complete their joy. I suppose I should have been dutifully deleting these names all along. After all, I will never call or write to any of these people again. I do not need their addresses.
Deleting the entries of the dead somehow feels wrong. Removing their name would remove my last connection to them and my last connection to the part of my own history where our paths crossed.
- Dear Helen introduced me to the poetry of Amy Carmichael, shared hours of hair-raising stories about her life as a missionary in inland China, and dragged me out the door for exhausting woodland hikes.
- Joanne was my mentor and friend, a fervent believer who has probably influenced my following life more than anyone else.
- Clarissa was “the lake lady,” a smiling presence at the entrance to our favorite state park who befriended our family.
While we scan newspaper articles and yearbook captions for the names of the people who matter to us, God regards the names of the lowest and the least because we all matter to him.
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Names Matter
I don’t think these people would mind if they knew their names are still very much alive in my address book and in my memory. Names matter. We know that’s true because of all the fuss around naming our children. And we know it’s true because names matter to God.
The New Testament opens with a list of names, the “begats” of the Messianic line.
The Old Testament is larded through and through with lists of priests, genealogical records, builders of the wall, and workers in the temple.
While we scan newspaper articles and yearbook captions for the names of the people who matter to us, God regards the names of the lowest and the least because we all matter to him.
God reassures his people that we are both named and claimed: ” I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who “calls his own sheep by name.” (John 10:3)
Heading into 2026, I have four sons, eight grandchildren, a dearly devoted husband, and 163 names in my address book. How could I be so blessed?
Heading into 2026, I have four sons, eight grandchildren, a dearly devoted husband, and 163 names in my address book. How could I be so blessed?
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Holding You in the Light,
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Memento Mori, Memento Dei.
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Exactly! So well said…
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It’s important to remember those that are with Jesus and look forward to seeing them again.
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Yes, and won’t that be wonderful!
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I’ve kept those names too. They certainly live on in my heart and I look forward to seeing them again one day in heaven.
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So grateful for the hope we share!
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I can relate as I too have a paper address book with addresses crossed out and rewritten. It is the names crossed out though, that doesn’t happen until years later when I’m moving on to another book. It’s that last thread that says they mattered! I agree, I don’t think they would mind still being on the list. Gives us another moment to pause and remember each time we see it ~ Rosie
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The crossing out seems like such a momentous act. It’s like saying, “You’re gone!” with my pen, which is certainly true, but by leaving the name there, I can at least remember them fondly.
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A few years ago, I sorted through a box of keepsakes. Included in that box were note cards that came with wedding gifts sent us 42 years ago. So many of those names belonged to people who were no longer with us. Those names brought back a wealth of memories–of that time, of the stories of these people, of how the world looked to my husband and I then. I discarded many of them to reduce the sorting my children would have to do some day. I am glad you have those names in an address book–that gives so much more context to the names–and so much more chance of your children remembering the threads of their stories. I am also glad has a name for each of us–the choosing of my name was a contentious thing leaving the nun at the hospital to chose my first name and the second name was a land-grab–I’m sure there is a redeeming message in that story. Maybe I will work it out this year. Happy New Year my friend!
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That does sound like an intriguing story, well worth pursuing!
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I think it’s lovely that you have kept all those names in your address book so that you can remember them as you look through it. It’s encouraging to remember those who have had a positive impact on our lives.
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That’s a great point. It is a real source of encouragement.
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It is sweet to remember the ones we love, but have gone before us, Michele. Christmastime is a wonderful time of reflection, remembrance, and the renewal of our hearts, minds, and relationships (past and present).
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Yes, that’s one of the many gifts of Christmas. Hope yours has been wonderful!
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I have a decades-old address book, too. I also find it hard to cross off those who are deceased. Lately I’ve put the updated list on the computer. Somehow, I don’t mind crossing off names there–I guess because I know I still have them in my address book.
One of my thoughts about the genealogies in Scripture is that God keeps records, and knows all those names (and ours!) and everything about those listed.
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He’s so much more intensely personal than we expect or give him credit for.
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“God reassures his people that we are both named and claimed: ” I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)” I find a lot of comfort in that scripture!
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Isn’t it great to find comfort when you’re looking for it in the right place!
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