We have a Sunday service at church. We worship together and hear God’s Word. We leave and go home without much of a thought to all the behind the scenes work people did to accomplish it.

We go in the bathrooms and have a million conversations in the ladies room, without a thought to all the behind the scenes work it took to get the church clean.

We drop our children off downstairs to a safe classroom with loving teachers and helpers, go upstairs to participate, without a thought to all the work and sacrifice being done downstairs.

People come in through the week to receive food and clothing from those ministries. Many stories we never hear about or know. There are people serving those ones in need. People who give up their time, energy, and money to serve the way they do.

We forget what we don’t see and know.

There are people meeting with others in small groups, discipleship and mentoring relationships, who give up their time and home for the sake of serving others.

There are people who are on the phones, in coffee shops, in their homes, reaching out to those who are hurting to be a listening ear, or whatever may be needed in that moment, so people know they are not forgotten.

The church has many servants. Many are behind the scenes, doing what others don’t see.

We do a great job of burning people out, we don't do a great job of making sure people know they are not forgotten, but loved and appreciated for the way they serve the Lord. Share on X

Sometimes we feel like God has forgotten us in the same way.

You begin to wonder if any of it is really worth doing. You start to think it isn’t really making that much of a difference, or you just get plain tired of being a reliable one.

There have been different seasons in my life where I have felt forgotten, by people, and by God.

But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;
    my Lord has forgotten me.”Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you.
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.” Isaiah49:14-16 (ESV)

I was reading this scripture one day and it has been a reminder to me that God has not forgotten me and He never will.

This is a promise to us.

I want to challenge and encourage us to be more mindful about helping others not feel forgotten. Share on X

It can just be a, “Thank You” for what they do. If what they have helped with affects you in a positive way, share that with the person. If your child has grown spiritually and has a safe place to learn about Jesus, love the teacher, the helper, and those who contribute to your child’s walk with Jesus.

This is part of loving each other. It isn’t just for some to do. There are people with a gift of encouragement, where this is more natural. It is just like hospitality. Not everyone has a gift of hospitality with an open door policy, and gourmet meals, but we are all called to be hospitable.

So when you leave church, thank someone in the LPT section as you walk out the door. Not just the leader, but the team. They will be there for several hours after. Thank someone you know who cleans the church. Love on someone who is pouring out consistently to others.

A little loving goes a long way and it helps people know they aren’t forgotten by you or by God.