People Matter

Personhood is a term referring to the status of being a person . . . with perceived rights, privileges, responsibilities, and protections. When said notions are challenged or said rights infringed upon, the personhood engine revvs up from within most individuals causing them to stand their ground in any way they can. The following three scenarios may reveal a deeper root:

A 10-year old girl screams, "I'm a person too."
An African-American youth pleads with his eyes, "I'm a person too."
A 45-year old HIV+ patient pitifully croaks after vomiting her minuscule breakfast, "I'm a person too."

Without knowing all the particulars, I can easily guess that the little girl felt either overlooked or belittled for her age. I can also assume that the youth felt discriminated against because of the color of his skin. Likewise, I can advance that the patient was feeling the brunt of shame because of her illness. They were all three bereft of love and grace that the human heart is conditioned to crave and need.

What if I knew more of their stories?
What if I were to say that the 10-year old girl had written an influential article for her local newspaper of such high quality that it was attributed to the mayor?
What if I were to share that the African-American youth, though highly committed to his white buddy, was completely ignored by his friend when other white youths are around?
What if I were to mention that the HIV+ patient was a hardworking wife, a conscientious mom, a faithful friend, but one who has not received a single visit from those she loved and served most?

People matter.

Yet somehow many of us find it all too easy to discard people as used up paper plates. We do not always take the time to acknowledge, recognize, and express gratitude for their contribution to our own betterment.

Today, I want to stop and take stock.
Today, I want to shush the voices of entitlement, ingratitude, pride, self-reliance, and isolation.
Today, I want to thank God every time I remember anyone and everyone, and pray with great joy because of their association with me.

People matter.

Today, I want to stop and take stock.
Today, I want to cease complaining, ranting, venting, grumbling, murmuring about people.
Today, I want to express gratitude to those I encounter and with whom I interact in whatever capacity.

People matter.

Recently, I was reading through the book of Romans when I stumbled upon the last chapter. At first glance, I was disappointed because Romans 16 seemed hardly the climactic ending I was hoping to savor -- a list of names of various individuals.

Admittedly, I thought to myself, "What is the purpose of this chapter?" Then something extraordinary happened:

God showed up!

He revealed to me that people matter.
He taught me that people are provisions of His grace.
He opened my eyes to see that Paul wrote a gratitude list for the contributions of little-known people.

Paul thanked:

-  a servant girl in the church who was a great help to many people
-  fellow workers in Christ Jesus who risked their lives
-  house church gatherings
-  the first convert to Christ
-  one who works very hard for believers in the world
-  relatives who have suffered and been imprisoned for the cause of Christ
-  great pioneers and outstanding workers in the Lord
-  dear friends and loved ones and relatives
-  those who have been tested and approved in Christ
-  those who are in the Lord
-  those chosen in the Lord and spiritual parents

All the above little-known people were thanked and greeted with a holy kiss, a common greeting that stated the importance of each person as a valuable member of the community. In our day, a kind word, a friendly hug, or a warm handshake communicates the same sentiment.

Perhaps, more importantly, grace opens observant and discerning eyes to see prayer as the best opportunity to express how much people matter -- to God, to us, to His creation, and to His kingdom. Grace invites all Christendom to take valuable time to recognize and express appreciation for the contributions that even little-known individuals make to God's kingdom and to personal lives.

So, let us wake up.
Let us see that people matter to God and that they ought to matter to us as well.

Lord, open our eyes to see and thank those who have blessed us -- the grandmother who prayed for our conversion, the behind-the-scenes workers who set up and tear down for worship gatherings, the grade school teacher who exposed our hearts to beauty, the faithful friend who sticks with us through thick and thin, the autistic child whose beaming face radiates Your joy, the unwashed children in the inner cities whose gratitude ministered to us more than our pitiful missionary efforts. Help us remember that people matter so much to You that You sent Jesus to die for the world. Thank You, Lord!