Have you ever spent all day doing something special for someone else, only to have them pass it off like it was nothing? They weren’t angry. They just didn’t respond. It’s as if what you did for them didn’t happen. You feel like everything you did was pointless. You acted “in vain.”
You could:
A. Not bother with them again and just walk away.
B. Continue to do the special thing for them and
wait for them to come around.
C. Start ignoring them when they say something
to you.
D. Ask “What’s up?” Make sure everything
is okay.
A. Walking away is better then being mean, but a cold shoulder
doesn’t help you understand what’s going on.
B. Way to turn the cheek, but you still don’t know if something happened to result in their impassive and indifferent reaction. Plus, you deserve some respect.
C. Getting even only escalates the problem. Besides, if you don’t like the way they are treating you, then why act like them? You’ve only become that which you don’t like.
D. You need to know what’s going on so you can be a true
friend. Maybe they had something bad happen and they aren’t even
aware of what else is going on around them. You can keep treating them
like they’re special, too.
When you're not appreciated:
There are other times when people do good things for others and they’re
just not appreciated. It could be a mother cooking all day only to have
her family scarf everything down so fast they couldn’t taste it and
then take off without a thank you. It could be you working all day on
cleaning the house and your parent coming home and not saying a thing.
It could be saving a space on the bus for a friend and they take the seat
but only talk to the person behind you.
How do you feel? Maybe empty inside; maybe angry; certainly unappreciated.
Faith Connection:
So,
have you ever said “Thank you” to God for a sunset, for a parent
or parents that love you? Or how about taking the creation of yourself
for granted when God so wonderfully made you? Perhaps you disregard your
health with drugs, or waste your mind without giving a thought to studies
or faith formation.
Have you ever looked in the mirror unhappy with how you look, who you
are or what you can do? God made you in His image and you are not a waste
of His time. He did not make you in vain.
It’s not only when we take God’s name in vain that we show disrespect
for our God but anytime we fail to appreciate who He is and all that He
has done for us. Using God’s name in vain isn’t just something
we do when we are angry and swear. It’s failing to honor Him in worship,
and appreciating all He has given us, and failing to be the person He
created us to be.
Take Action:
How are you going to show God your love and appreciation? Are you going
to mention His name with respect? Are you going to be grateful for your
life and the creation you are? We show God true honor by simply living
for Him. We must not only not use God’s name in vain but not live
in vain either. Life really is shorter than we think. And by the way,
thank mom for dinner tonight and help clean up to show you mean it.
It would be awesome to share with others who read FAITHteen just what
you are grateful for. Please reply
to me by sending a note saying: “I am thankful to God for (fill-in-the-blank).”
I’ll share the replies in a future issue. Peace!
Love in Jesus,
Pat Rinker
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