Understanding Your Place
The floors are swept and mopped, laundry is folded, fresh bread has been cooling on the counter, and hot dinner is on the table. Everyone sits down to pray for the meal, but the prayer ends and a bubbling feeling of frustration starts rising out of me. Did anyone notice all I did? No one cares to thank me? Are they all blind? How do they think everything gets done?
Have you been there? I sure have. Whether it's in your home, work place, or wherever - it is easy to feel this way. Underappreciated or undervalued. The world almost sets us up to feel that way. The world says "surround YOURSELF. with people who love, support, and cheer you on" and "remove everything toxic from YOUR life."
What's the problem with that thinking? The focus is all about YOU. Scripture says "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind; so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). The truth is, it's not about us. Everything comes from God and is for God. No wonder we feel frustrated, let down, angry, the list goes on. We make everything about ourselves.
I am reading a book right now with my mentor called "Humble Roots" and boy is it challenging! I already knew beforehand pride was an issue for me, but this book has been dissecting it all the more. One thing the book says is, "humility is understanding our place." When we understand it is not about us, but it's about God - the frustration, the lack of contentment, it all starts to fade into the background.
God has called me to love Him by loving and serving my family. God has called you to love Him by loving and serving those around you at your job. Not only that - God has called you and I to love Him by having a good attitude about it. Oof that's hard! When I sit down for dinner and no one notices or remembers to thank me but I remember and recall that my doing of these tasks are first unto God, I can receive satisfaction in knowing God sees everything I do. When it becomes about God and less about me, the frustration fades. Suddenly, I am okay if no one notices all I did because my focus isn't on me.
Doesn't it sound ironic? I have more joy when I am not focused on me. The world would say the opposite - create your own joy, do what makes you happy. But God's design is so different. True, lasting joy comes from shifting our focus away from ourselves and unto Him. Together, let us intentionally, moment by moment, remember our place. In doing so shall come peace, joy, and so much more.