Nehemiah 11:2 –
And the people commended everyone who volunteered to resettle in Jerusalem.
This is something that those who volunteer seem to miss more than get. How many times have you been helping someone out not to get a thanks? As you do this more and more you are surprised at how many people don’t acknowledge the help. Now your response is just as much a ministry as your work. In disaster relief you see this often, but cannot worry because of the loss they have suffered. Many are in shock or lamenting their loss. Other times they are in shock not from loss but surprise anyone would help.
No matter what the response is, we should never let it bother us. I find it interesting that Nehemiah talks about this and I wonder if it’s because appreciation was rare even then. So maybe thanks will be appreciated by not expected. Honestly a negative reaction from a volunteer can destroy any trust or help given. People will remember the hypocrisy before they remember the tree you removed from their yard. So keep yourself “in check” when doing volunteer work.
Now having been the recipient of hundreds of hours of volunteer time working on Annie’s Place, I am sure I have not thanked everyone enough. Annie’s became a project we started a few years ago to help support the homeless as a transition home. It was a disaster and needed a ton of work to be up to code and livable. We had people over the years give us materials and time like one could not believe. It is finally finished and did help people during the construction, but in retrospect I can honestly say I personally did not thank everyone enough for those hard hours they put in. In reading this if you say “hey that’s me” my heartfelt thanks is sincere for all the effort, it couldn’t have been finished without you!