Do You See Me?

 

Have you ever felt overlooked? Ignored? Unseen? I think we've all experienced on some level. One time, several years ago, my son and I visited a "church" close to our home. We were literally ignored. Not one person spoke to us, even though they walked right past us. I chose to laugh it off. But when I got a really nice form letter from the pastor saying how nice it was for us to visit, I countered back. He wasn't there that morning, anyway.

I explained that we wouldn't be coming back because we were ignored. I got some canned answer about their key people being out of town on mission trips and such. I was actually relieved. Yep. I felt like I got to see the real heart of the church, not the mask they present. Needless to say, I was very disappointed and never have we gone back.

But sometimes, rejection isn't so obvious. 

Yesterday alone, we had two such circumstances. Both were very minor in nature, but went off like bombshells in my soul. 

Firstly, the nurse came to recert Chris and check on his aid services, which I provide. When we finished our visit, I told her he could give her a fist bump. She held out her hand for about half a second and then said, "nah..." I really couldn't believe a "healthcare professional" didn't have the sense of a banana. She literally turned and walked away and out the front door. I was stunned and shocked at her ignorance. No big deal. I just went on with my day.

Then, later, I realized the guy who is taking Chris' regular "therapist's" place hadn't sent me the time for our session usually scheduled for today. I texted him and he had already booked the day. He offered a time slot on the next day. No big deal. Still accommodating, right? But then I realized he booked everyone else and seemingly forgot about us. I cancelled the session due to a conflict in myself, not in the time slot.

These all seem like such minor, small, petty things. Am I wearing my emotions on my sleeve, so to speak? Maybe. Probably. But it's so important for every person to feel seen and valued.

My mind ran through some verses I just read a few days ago. They are in Isaiah 49. Verses 15 SAYS something like this: can a woman forget her nursing child? (rhetorical question - because the vast majority don't!) Can she fail to have compassion on her own child? (of course not, but it happens!) God goes on to tell Isaiah, they may forget - But I WILL NOT FORGET YOU. 

Even in the rarest of rare cases, moms may forget their children. But God won't forget us. He won't forget to speak to us in a crowd. He won't fail to wait half a second for a fist bump. And He certainly won't forget to pencil us in for a visit!

Today, I will remind myself that no matter how badly people can act, or how insensitive they may be (even innocently), God will not overlook us, pass us by, or forget that we are His. He will see us! He sees me! He sees our loved ones! And He is not going to look away for even a second. He catches so many things that we miss. Thank God that He is right here with us and senses our every move, hears our every breath, and feels our every heartbeat. I can trust an up-close-and-personal God like that for one more day. Will you join me?

Check out my latest release. Command Your Morning is a 31-day devotional that is focused on taking charge of your soul and day in the morning and trusting God that the rest of the day will follow suit! You can get the eBook from my shop at Buy Me A Coffee. Or the print and Kindle versions are now available in my Amazon Shop.