I tried to think of a passage of scripture that would fit with what I want to say, but that seems backward. Instead, I’ll just say what I want to say.
A few weeks ago I talked about giving thanks in ministry to/for those that help you in your ministry. These could be volunteers, pastors, mentors, coworkers, spouses, friends, etc. But now I want to stress the importance of receiving thanks in ministry. I’ve often said that the one thing I don’t miss about school is the pressure of grades. But the one thing I really do miss is the satisfaction of knowing where I stand when I see my grades. In the real world of ministry, the water gets muddied and it’s hard to see exactly how I’m doing. This can be even more frustrating as I begin to search for ways to find out how I’m doing by checking the measurable things…which usually comes down to numbers.
Ministry at times can be a thankless job…at least that’s how it feels. When I was growing up, somehow I latched onto the idea that it was polite to shyly dismiss any praise I received. For instance: “That’s a nice shirt you’re wearing.” “What? This old thing?!” This can happen in ministry too. If I’m not careful I cannot hear words of thanks and praise which are offered as an encouragement. I can quickly dismiss words from parents, church members, youth, or even staff members so quick that I don’t allow them to build me up.
If you find yourself struggling with this too, I have a proposed way to combat it. Become a sentimental pack rat. I’m a pack rat by nature, but I’ve adopted a practice in ministry to help hold onto those words of thanks and praise. I don’t throw away notes that I get from youth and church people expressing gratitude or sharing how this or that meant something to them. I have a box that they go in. I pull them out every once in a while (or when I stumble upon the box as I move to a new place of living or a different office) and give them a quick read. I even have one in a frame that I could almost quote to you…misspelled words and all.
That’s my word for you today in ministry. To hear the words of thanks and encouragement. To hang on to them for a drought. Of course, don’t let them go to your head…instead let them sink into your heart. Cheesy? Probaby. Necessary? I definitely think so.
Blessings.
Russell Bowlin (twitter) is the Director of Ministries for Youth and Young Adults at FUMC Victoria in Victoria, Tx. Read more of his thoughts on his blog http://www.russbowlin.blogspot.com