When You Feel Overlooked...

Do you ever feel as though your acts and efforts are unappreciated by others?


I was talking with a coworker the other day, and she complained that our leader very seldom noticed that she “went the extra mile.” Soon, she was including her husband and family as unappreciative of her labor. The more she talked, the more agitated she became. Then I became frustrated because I was unable to console her!
At some time or another I believe we all feel ignored, and it hurts! Don’t we all reach a point in our lives where we feel entitled to praise and appreciation for everything we do? It’s human nature. We’ve come to expect reward so much that we feel taken-for-granted when our expectations of reward are not met.
Sadly, this desire for our backs to be patted, and gold stars to be given, comes at a great price emotionally; disillusionment with our desire to be rewarded misdirects our thoughts and actions—we become motivated by pleasing others or ourselves, instead of becoming wholehearted servants of Jesus.
We want to be appreciated for our hard work—whether it is in our jobs, our families, or our friends. Are we focusing on our relationship with people, instead of our relationship with the Father? If so, this is an exercise in futility. As humans, we all expect too much of each other, and we will all be disappointed with the outcome! Just when you begin to feel good about your labors, someone will not notice your efforts!
Our jobs, our families, our friends are God-given. We do not serve human beings, we serve the Creator! You may want to flee from the insatiable demands of others, but when people begin to wear you down or make you feel unimportant, remind yourself that you are not forgotten.

Christ will empower you to be a servant, and He will reward you for your service. Ask the Father to help you have the right motives. Focus on becoming so absorbed in a relationship with Him, that every other thing is a direct response to our relationship with Jesus. I promise you, He will never let you down!

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven. Matthew 5:12.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Prov. 3:5-8

Additional Reading:
Psalm 139
John 16:33
11 Corinthians 8:9
Ephesians 4:32

My Father, My Vicar, My Friend

Influences from Daddy’s Walk

By Pamela Wheeler Storz on Father’s Day to Samuel Wayne Wheeler

June 19, 2011

 

• Real men enjoy cooking, music, the arts, and sports; while able to hold and rock you when you’re scared, and fix the broken car, guitar, or curling iron.
• Conventional isn’t always necessarily correct, but necessary.
• It’s okay to color inside the lines, neatly, if you want.
• Feel honored to be wherever you are.
• Manners, please.
• A quiet corner is not necessary to enjoy a good book.
• Always look your best for God’s house and God’s presence. There is no such thing as a “casual” presence of the Lord.
• Go to church. Just go.
• Music has great powers of transformation.
• Make a joyful noise!
• In order to affect change, begin with yourself.
• There is always an occasion to wear a hat.
• Sun-bad. Shade-good!
• Don’t be so free-spirited that you cause pain to others.
• It’s fine to call your dad “hon.”
• Face adversity by humbly kneeling, then keep marching.
• Engage strangers, but don’t be flirty.
• Make sure your animals always have plenty of water.
• Take lots of pictures, and remember that each one has a story.
• Try to remember the story to each picture.
• Even if opinions differ, they are all worthy of attention, and do not change love for one another.
• Purist-good; snob-bad.
• Surround yourself with music from all over the world, and all walks of life.
• Practice endless compassion.
• Learn how to gently correct a loved one’s path.
• There is never a bad time for a nap (unless you’re behind the wheel of a moving vehicle).
• Don’t allow good writing to become a lost art. Write, write, and write some more—someone, somewhere will eventually appreciate your ability.
• Use the necessary tools available to get the job done (screwdriver, shovel, thesaurus, dictionary, the web).
• Even when not to do so makes you squirm internally, don’t ever edit someone else’s speech or feelings.
• Be sweet and behave.
• Smile always, laugh often.

 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, no sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:1,2.

 

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy--I love you!