Taken for Granted

At my home, and I'm sure in many ways like yours', we all seem to take on different roles. Sometimes they are based on our strengths, and sometimes simply out of need. We may share in these roles of course, but usually they are not perfectly and equally split ... 

Cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, running children to and from activities, laundry, the social calendar, the doctor/dentist/eye appointments, car maintenance, yard work, pool care, teacher/homeschooler, tech support, etc.  The list can go on an on ...

Other roles or personalities may include things like being the encourager, nurturer, spiritual leader, discipline manager, the introvert, the extrovert, leader in different areas of ministry/serving, motivator, etc.

For those with families, we try to raise our children to be healthy spiritually, emotionally, and even physically ... and can add to even more in what we do ... 

However, as weak as we are in the flesh, sometimes something happens here as we are all caught up in these roles ... 

We feel taken for granted.

As strong as we try to be, sometimes it's the smallest thing that can place that question in our head: "Can't anyone even say thank you?!"

I remember leaving the house one time for work after waking up energized and positive. I had time to cook a full healthy and balanced breakfast before I was able to walk out the door (not just for me, but for others) ... and the question broke in as I pulled out of the drive  ... "Not even a thanks?"

I get thanked plenty of times - but this morning I didn't ... yet that didn't seem to matter at the moment ... then I read things like this ... 

'"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [...] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ' - Matthew 6:2,5

Verses like this help to keep me in check ... because first of all, I do get thanks. It's sad how quickly I can crave affirmation when I don't get it ... but more importantly:

I don't need affirmation from people, I get it from God.

However, while these verses keep me in check - and help me focus the eyes of my heart on the Lord, it's really not even why I was journaling today ... it's not about me not feeling taken for granted ...

What do I take for granted? 

            God?

God indeed does have emotions (after all, He is the creator and giver of them) - and while the Holy Spirit may grieve (Ephesians 4:30), He does not grieve in a prideful way as to get offended ... but that doesn't matter - He doesn't deserve to be taken for granted anyway!

"But I don't take God for granted."

Really? Sure about that? ... I have a hard time believing any of us don't struggle with that. So easily we can get caught up in life, work, family, business, and quickly lose sight of the giver of all perfect gifts ... 

Every breath we breathe is a gift ... literally.

Every song we hear, laugh we make, tear we shed, sunrise we see, child we raise, cookie we eat, bird we see, hug we receive, love we have, sand we feel between our toes, hot shower we take ... every load of laundry we do ... get the point?

Didn't get thanked for laundry? Feeling taken for granted?

                Breathe in Him ... 

Want to know what I love most?

Just like so many other things, we have our thinking completely upside down ... the more we focus on Him, praise Him, worship Him, thank Him ... that cleaning doesn't seem so bad ... that meal planning doesn't seem so bad ... that task just doesn't seem so bad ... and I don't even crave affirmation as much ... because I'm ultimately not doing it for my family, or even myself anyway ... 

                    I'm doing it for Him ... 

His,

~Matthew

Prayer Request: A fellow dancer in our studio took a major fall and may be out of commission for the performance this weekend. Not just for healing, but for peace, contentment, and joy in Him admits this disappointment and worry for the future ...  

Praise: Had a wonderful morning as usual with my children ... and through prayer, the Word, and conversation, I was affirmed that while far from perfect, I'm on the right path with them. I needed that encouragement ... and this affirmation didn't come from others ... it came right from Him, praise God.