Today I was made fun for serving other people and advocating for global issues.
Long story short, a couple of people were mocking global issues involvement and compared social advocacy and service to "being infected with Rachel Tamism". It did not sit well with me. I was absolutely infuriated. At first thought, I simply could not even comprehend why these people thought to humiliate me for something as genuine as my will to serve. There are many things you can mock about me that would not impact me much, if at all, but my love for serving others is absolutely not one of them.
I lost a great deal of things to these people and I was hurt by them a while ago for something that I now see as a blessing in retrospect. It was a wise decision. When the name calling occurred, though, I thought, "I have already given them so much and it hurt me more than enough to do it. What more do they want from me?"
However, a few hours later, I am now seeing the greater side of this incident. I am still annoyed. I am hurt by their words. But there is a happier side to it that I did not see earlier.
Is it not a great honor to have my name come up with the mentioning of "service" or "advocacy"?
If people who do not like me particularly much think of my name first thing when service is mentioned, then, wow, I have absolutely done my job. I am so glad for this one thing.
Looking back, today was not an easy day. This name-calling bothered me for a while. But after thinking things through in the shower (because showers are where most great things come to mind), I now see today's little hurdle as a moment of pride for me.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving me a heart and passion to serve. I am so glad that along with the abundance of things you have given me, you gave me this beautiful gift, because I do not know what I would do with my life without it.
There really is always a positive side to everything, and today, I learned just how to see that sun behind the clouds.