Empty G Chats, Garbage, and Value

Here’s the text from a recent g chat with my daughters:

Maggie: am i the only one who cares about this group chat?!‬

 ‪Katy:  I’m back!

 ‪Maggie: good!‬

 ‪Katy: not sure for how long though‬

where's mom?

 ‪Maggie: i don’t know

Later…

Maggie: NOBODY is talking to me!

NOBODY cares!

Ok, I just realized I’m in an empty chat again, talking to myself…

Ever feel like you’re in an empty G chat? 

When I go out walking or riding, I try to ask, “Lord, what do you have to teach me about myself or Yourself today?”  Now I’m sure God is probably shouting a million messages to me given that I have a lot to learn about both of us, but I’m also a little ADD plus I tend to think that first I need to tell HIM what He should know about ME and My problems. 

However,I try to pay attention, and every once in awhile He gets through.  And it’s not like a slap in the face, but more like a gentle-soft “pat-pat” on my hand like my grandmother used to do with love and a twinkle in her eye.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m contributing anything of value to the kingdom.  I doubt I’m alone in that, but the other day it was particularly on my mind.  I was finishing a ride around Lake of the Isles when I passed a group of mentally challenged young adults along the path picking up garbage.

I thought:

• Does anyone thank these folks?
• Do they feel like what they’re doing is worthwhile – honorable?  Or does it feel shameful?
• Do they feel loved and celebrated by God or anyone else?

Lord, what do you want me to see about You and about me in this picture?

As I reflected on this, several verses came to mind, verses that reminded me of God’s character and heart.  Now when this happens, it really is a God thing because as hard as I try, I’m not good at memorizing scripture, so usually the “pat-pat” is an image or vague memory of something from scripture that I look up and say “Is this where you were leading, Lord?” 

Anyway, “sparrow verses” came to mind and led me to “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”(Mt.10:28-31)

And the “small things” verse that is often a good reminder to me came to mind.  “Who dares despise the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10)

And lastly, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…God put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” (I Cor. 12;22-26)

I went on through my day and then in the afternoon I was at a busy intersection and there was a woman pulling weeds from around the stoplight.  I’ve never seen that before and it made me smile.  I think it made God smile too - that there was another person caring for His creation.

I wish there was some huge deep insight from this, but rather, I think that God just wanted to remind me that we’re all honored by Him.  He sees and rejoices in our smallest contributions.  And we’re to value others even as He values the smallest sparrow. 

I think He was delighting in His children picking up garbage on the path and pulling weeds at the stoplight would like them to know that.

Who are the “small people” in your world that you’re tempted to dismiss as less valuable?  Have you found ways to honor others who may be doubting their worth?  I’d love to hear!