When Your Best Doesn't Feel Good Enough

Have you ever felt as though your best is not good enough, as though you are at your wits end, and cannot go on a minute longer? Welcome to the human race. It seems that most of mankind has felt this way at one time or another.  It is not uncommon to want to throw in the towel when you feel unappreciated, or as though all your hard work does not matter. Just think what Christ must have felt like as he took on so much to save mankind from total condemnation in hell. To have been spat upon, beaten, ridiculed, made a mockery of, ignored by the high priests who claim to have known his father and the list could go on and on. And yet, he took those unappreciated moments, and turned them into a victory for his Father; our Father.  How proud and pleased God must have been in his son. And, how honored we truly are to have a brother like that. Could you even fathom the whole concept? To give your life for millions upon millions of people who condemn and deny you. And even more so, to give your life for millions upon millions of people who will never know you, never to see, hear, or touch you? And yet, that is an example that Christ has set before us.  Sometimes, we are the army of Christ that no one truly sees, that no one truly understands or appreciates. It is not our job to look for praise from mankind, for man is self-centered and does not always see another hurting or non-hurting soul. It is merely our jobs, as Christians, to do the best that we can and leave the rest up to God.  The important issue is not ourselves; it is Christ and what Christ would want from us. And, believe it or not, if no one else seems to notice, Christ does.  Christ knows and God knows, every thing you do; from the tiniest kind gesture, to the biggest most awful sin you have ever committed. And thus, your tasks will never truly go unnoticed or unappreciated.  In closing, at one time or another we all need to feel appreciated and there is nothing wrong with that. For without it, we could not do our jobs as effectively as we do. Appreciation is sort of like the gateway to doing a better job. It boosts our egos and our self-esteem and makes us want to try harder.  But often times, we do not get the appreciation we feel we deserve, or even need. And that got me to thinking why I do what I do…I do it because I love to see the smiles on those little one’s faces when they are having a good time with some activity that I planned for them. And I feel good when they want to give me a hug or tell me that they missed me when we were on vacation and most importantly, for Christ. I believe that somehow, I am bringing kids to Christ…one step at a time.