to finally conclude my series of thoughts, the somewhat more obvious scriptural example of a Christian who struggled with being unappreciated while being obedient to what God called him to:

Jeremiah

He's commonly referred to as the weeping prophet, and I'd be weeping, too, if I went through what he went through.

Here's this guy who God's called to speak to His people, and it wasn't always the best news.  Naturally, when a pastor or a friend tells us something that we don't like, regardless of whether they are right or not, it stings and we want to get mad at them.  Jeremiah had nearly a whole nation of people mad at him because he told them exactly what God wanted to say to them.  The people's rejection of Jeremiah affected him so dramatically that he even penned ...

"Yet I curse the day I was born! May the day of my birth not be blessed. I curse the messenger who told my father, "Good news--you have a son!" Let him be destroyed like the cities of old that the LORD overthrew without mercy. Terrify him all day long with battle shouts, for he did not kill me at birth. Oh, that I had died in my mother's womb, that her body had been my grave! Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame."

Take it from Jeremiah, it absolutely sucks to be obedient to God.  It pissed him off and sometimes it pisses me off (pardon my bluntness) how we feel like we're continuing to live above reproach and all we get in return is to be marginalized, overlooked, unappreciated, etc.

However, I do love Jeremiah's example for a second reason.  First, he was honest with his struggles.  Second, he still chose to remain obedient to what he was called to do in spite of how much it sucked.  Right before he throws out all that frustration, he also penned:

"Now I am mocked by everyone in the city. Whenever I speak, the words come out in a violent outburst. "Violence and destruction!" I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke. And I can't stop! If I say I'll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!
I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me "The Man Who Lives in Terror." And they say, "If you say anything, we will report it." Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. "He will trap himself," they say, "and then we will get our revenge on him." But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him they will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will be shamed and thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD Almighty! You know those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts of hearts and minds. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you. Now I will sing out my thanks to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For though I was poor and needy, he delivered me from my oppressors."

Scripture gives us the story of Jeremiah and many other humans who chose to obey God in spite of the fact that no one on this side of heaven would fully know the impact they are having.  And I refuse to believe that those stories end with Revelation.

I guarantee you that every single person you meet has some value in them that deserves to be appreciated.  If nothing else, God created them in His image and therefore gave them some attributes of Himself.  Find them.  Find people that pack your parachute.  Find people that volunteer in invisible roles in your church.  Find a guy on the street and listen to his story (well, be careful when you do that).  If someone does something that you appreciate, thank them.  If someone does something that honors you, find out their mailing address and write them a hand-written note.  Serving might be their spiritual gift, but it doesn't mean that they need to be taken advantage of.  Take the time to get to know people, get to know their stories, remember them, and thank them. (btw, a very easy thing to do to remember people is to put their birthday into a calendar and send them a card or call them.  people appreciate having their birthday remembered).

I've probably been writing enough and I think I made my point and shared my thoughts.

signing off til who knows when again