For The Unappreciated Folks

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ... and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."   --- Philippains 2:13, Matthew 6:18

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Lately I'm watching reruns of Restaurant Impossible and often the moms, especially, say they desire their restaurant to do well so their children will be proud of them. So to leave a legacy.

That's usually when I squirm a bit on the red couch and wonder what kind of legacy I'm leaving for not only Naomi, but as a general Life one, as well,

Me? I am a behind-the-scenes person and folks like us find describing our lives difficult. We major in the unseen. Mostly.

People ask, "So what've you been doing lately, Debra?" and it's kinda frustrating finding an interesting answer.

I might say, "Oh, just spring cleaning", but who wants to hear about pulling out the broom to swoop down cobwebs or washing the dishes displayed near the kitchen ceiling or walking clutter down to the Salvation Army drop-off even though I believe God wants me to create a clean environment for my family? To plan ahead so no one will have a horrible time tossing my possessions upon my demise?

(The entire housekeeping thing: that's hard to make sound delightful unless you're a Bailey White type.)  シ

If I declare, "Gardening," what I really mean is scooping up buckets of dead, brown leaves into the trash can and preparing my garden beds for transplants. Yet you go describing all that and peoples' eyes frost over. Only another gardener gets the importance, the joy (I don't know many).

I would list the titles of books I'm reading, but nobody in Real Life cares about those vintage authors. Gladys Taber? Mary C. Jane? Augusta Huiell Seaman? Who?

Prepping, boycotts and buycotts are important to me, but not so much to my acquaintances.

I might add that instructional Youtube videos fascinate me, help and teach me to live with purpose, but that's a whole scattered, many-faceted (and again, eyes-frosted-over) thing.

Sometimes I say, "I'm still blogging after 18 years," yet only another blogger/teacher/minister would understand (or want to hear) what all that entails. How fulfilling/cathartic/challenging it is to be responsible for such a ministry to others--

--and of course--

it's not like you can recount the appreciative emails or comments you receive. That never feels right.

What also never feels right? Saying that since Tom and I are as old as dirt and have paid our bills (and our dues), we have extra money to give away to others. We love that we've tithed for 44 years and that we're able to make extra monthly donations to folks in need.

But you certainly can't go talking about that, either!

And of course, Tom and I don't have grandchildren to brag rejoice about and although I love listing ways Naomi's a huge help to us, still, her personal life is not for me to share with others.

So basically, when people ask what I've been up to, I toss out a simple oh-just... statement, then immediately ask where Life has taken them. Then I lean back, relieved, because now all I need do is listen--and fortunately--I love hearing new stories.

I'm sharing this today because some of you, my fellow behind-the-scenes friends, need this:

God is keeping a record of all we faithfully, secretly, do for Him and someday in Heaven? All the books will be opened and everyone will see and finally understand how we spent our years. The ways tiny things--when appointed by God--were huge and actually helped spin this world the way He designed.

Yet what will prove most important on that day? God led us. He performed those actions, those tasks through us--

--and He understood us, He appreciated us, every moment of the very long journey.

And that's what mattered most of all.

Since we know someday we'll be understood by others, we can live in a present joy today.

What God also appreciates? All the times we kept going while feeling so tempted to quit.

Until we realize and know God's deep appreciation for us, we'll be expecting others to give us what only God, Himself, can.

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Okay, this lady was a pure delight. She loves being the third generation country store owner and throughout the entire video I never sensed she wished she'd gotten out of town for bigger, flashier things. Such contentment, I believe, is a gift, and what a marvelous legacy she's leaving!

And the narrator of this video often spoke of forgotten memories and people and homes, but as mentioned earlier, Almighty God forgets no good thing.

This year I'm purposely aiming to read more books each month. Here are those I read in March:

Gone-Away Lake

True to You

Return to Gone-Away

Through Charley's Door

Practically Twins

If These Walls Could Talk

The Frightened Whisper

Anna Wolfrom Dove and The Wigwam Tea Room

It matters. All of it. Every task and gift and lesson and adventure. Although Earth isn't our home, it's still the place where we begin to learn how to later live, thrive even, in Heaven.

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15