A Good Word Wednesday #96 SEEN
A little bit of goodness for you each Wednesday
Good Word of the Day: Seen 👓😎🕶️
You know that feeling… When you want someone to see you… Acknowledge you as a human being… To feel like you matter and that you are making a significant contribution to the world.
I know that feeling. As a writer, I often wonder when I press the send button, if anyone will read the words that I’ve offered. Maybe you are the middle child and your siblings always get all the attention. Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom and you feel isolated and unseen. Or, you’ve worked at your job so long that you are just going through the motions. You feel no one notices you and no one cares.
It’s not uncommon to feel that way. It goes way back to the Old Testament. Remember Hagar? She was an outcast. Alone. Unwanted. Until she experienced the presence of God and she proclaimed, “You are the God who sees.”
We are entering the summer season where you may find yourself in crowds of unseen people. Where are you planning on going on vacation in the coming months?
My challenge to all of us as we go is to help others be seen. Here is a quick list from Unseen People that helps us remember some actions to take:
Wednesday in the Word
"She (Hagar) gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13. Read the whole story in Genesis 16:1-15.
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
Share Your Good Words
Good Question of the Week: Have you helped someone who is normally overlooked feel loved and seen? Or, has someone helped you feel seen and valued? How did that make you feel?
Photo: She Is Safe
Good Unseen People
I wrote the following story for Stories for Global Good and posted it a few years ago about seeing the unseen:
That’s my encouragement to you too. Pay attention. Look people in the eyes and listen. Ask their name and use it in your conversation with them. Try to frequent the same places to see if you can see those same people often. That’s how you start to build a relationship… And the thing that is the same about Juan and John and Julie is, when I say their name, they smile. Big. Everyone likes to be noticed. Everyone likes to know they matter. You do too. So do I.
Who is your Juan or John or Julie? I’d love to hear their stories!
Read the whole story here: Do you see them?
I invite you to read stories about how God calls us to see the unseen. Click the link below to read more on my website about Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life With Your Neighbors and the Nations.
To mark the progress of the book and to give you weekly insights into my writing life, please follow along and watch the videos on This Week in Unseen People. Click the link below to watch the videos on my YouTube channel. Please subscribe to my channel while you’re there! This Week in Unseen People videos
CLICK HERE FOR NEW EPISODES ON MY WEBSITE: Episode 16 this week A short reading from Chapter 8: Looking the Unseen in the Eyes.
AVAILABLE NOW for PREORDER. CLICK HERE TO PREORDER the book today. It will release August 6th.
Good Words I Recommend
A Good Book: I’m reading this one now and enjoying it. It helps you help people in your neighborhood feel seen: Love Where You Live: How to Live Sent in the Place You Call Home, Shauna Pilgreen
A Good Video: Place in the World for KING + COUNTRY
A Good Opportunity: You are invited to be a member of my Unseen People book launch community. It would mean the world to me if you would join this team.
Click to access the Google form. Complete and join! Thank you! Let me know if you have questions.
A Final Good Word
“Thank you ______” (name on their badge or ask them their name), “for your help. You have a good day.” I often say that to servers or cashiers or other people who help me in some way. I love that when you say the person’s name, their face lights up. They feel seen. But I could add, “Jesus loves you and He sees you.” Imagine the impact that might have on someone’s life. I’m challenging myself to do that. Will you join me?
Thank you for reading these words. I’m deeply honored to share this time with you each week.
“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. Jeremiah 30:2
Gratefully yours,
I try to talk to people in positions of serving, like cleaning ladies at hotels, janitors, groundskeepers, etc. I've had jobs like that before and it never feels good to be unseen or looked down on just because of a job. Sometimes I'm not very good at speaking up, though, because its so stinkin' hard for me to talk to people. I always feel good inside when I do and they smile and say hi and light up back at me, though. Its always worth the effort to let people know they're noticed and appreciated. :)