What About Me?

"Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them." -John 13:17

In today's verse Jesus is talking about serving one another by washing each other's feet--not only literally because their dusty roads necessitated it, but metaphorically for us today.  As a child I was often overlooked because I was shy.  When I felt alone I found myself thinking, "What about me?"  

Jesus said if we serve one another we will be blessed, but I often do not feel blessed.  As I pondered this verse from today's Our Daily Bread my question still nagged me, "What about me?" so I continued my search for what to do with my question since it keeps popping up.....why do I feel this way?

I've often written about the need to do what we do for others "as unto the Lord."  We will know when we do things for others in order to get something in return because we will be disappointed if they do not reciprocate or appreciate it.  Sometimes we may do things for others just to gain their attention, and they don't even notice because they did not want us to do it in the first place.  Whether we realize it or not, our disappointment is saying, "What about me?"

I decided to google my question to see what popped up. Besides a song and a sociology book with that title, it turns out there is a children's book called "What About Me?"  It retells a Sufi Wisdom whose two morals are this:  "Some of the most precious gifts that we receive are those we receive when we are giving," and, "Often, knowledge comes to us when we least expect it."  It was then that I realized that the gift that I receive when I  do something for another is the connection I make with them.  As a child who felt alone because she did not know how to connect with others, making a connection with someone is a huge blessing for me.  They still might not notice me, but I will know that I've made a connection with them by doing for them what Jesus has done for me.

I am grateful that God's wisdom is available to me if I sincerely search for it.