"You're NOT Invisible...You're Just Quiet"

[Timl1980]

That is a direct quote from a very loving older sister who gave me the biggest longest hug I've ever experienced in my life...(save from my mom).

 

I had been standing at the back of the Hall, pouring out my heart to this lovely older couple when suddenly the sister stepped forward, hugged me tightly...and whispered those words into my ear.

 

Then she asked me to take out my phone and write down the following scriptures to look at when I got home:

 

Acts 9:36-42: "36 Now there was in Jopʹpa a disciple named Tabʹi·tha, which means, when translated, “Dorʹcas.” She abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy that she was making. 37 But in those days she fell sick and died. So they bathed her and laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydʹda was near Jopʹpa, when the disciples heard that Peter was in that city, they sent two men to him to urge him: “Please come to us without delay.”* 39 At that Peter got up and went with them. And when he arrived, they led him up into the upper room; and all the widows presented themselves to him, weeping and showing many garments and robes that Dorʹcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter then put everyone outside,+ and kneeling down, he prayed. Then turning toward the body, he said: “Tabʹi·tha, rise!” She opened her eyes, and as she caught sight of Peter, she sat up.+ 41 Giving her his hand, he raised her up, and he called the holy ones and the widows and presented her alive.+ 42 This became known throughout all Jopʹpa, and many became believers in the Lord."

 

I read the account later that day...I thought about it...but other than a couple of smaller points, I couldn't figure out what she was getting at. So I called them, and asked. I can't quote verbatim what she said...but I'll do my best to translate...because it was powerful to me...I've been meditating on it all week.

 

She said my service to Jehovah may feel invisible at times...but that's only because I've been measuring it the way humans do...through what I'm doing at this moment. But what if Jehovah is even now preserving all the "routine" things that  I simply do...things I take for granted?

 

She asked me to think about the account of Dorcas, (Tabitha). When this dear sister died unexpectedly...the sisters didn't bring words with them...they didn't talk about this sister's spiritual accomplishments...they literally brought clothes...clothes this dear sister had made for the widows!

 

She told me to think about what that would have looked like, (she is also a sewer...or maybe it's seamstress?), especially back then. Sewing clothes takes place quietly, it would have been done throughout the day...maybe even a few stitches at a time in between house chores. (This sister actually said that each and every stitch could be called a mini act of love that never asked to be noticed). 

 

And then I thought about it: Jehovah could have preserved so many other details about Dorcas to show us her value...but when he inspired Luke to write this book, he pointed us to what people were wearing!

 

This sister said, "Tim...when Dorcas died...the congregation didn't just "explain" how valuable she was...they literally FELT it."

 

Then she hit me with a few haymakers: Have I ever wondered if what I do for Jehovah would actually be missed if I suddenly stopped? If I stopped all my spiritual activity right here and now...what quiet acts would speak up for me and be missed?

 

Jehovah didn't record Dorcas's words...he recorded her acts...and when he chose to act on her behalf...he did so with resurrection.

 

Do you know what this sister asked me next?

 

"I sometimes wonder, Tim...why didn't Jehovah use that resurrection on a brother who had died but who was integral to the 1st century Christian congregation? I mean, he didn't HAVE to resurrect her JUST to prove that he could...so why her?"

 

Her conclusion? Get ready, because this hit me hard: 

 

"Jehovah didn’t just resurrect Dorcas. He resurrected the kind of service that is easiest to overlook."

 

Jehovah didn’t need to prove that he could resurrect...we already know that. Instead, with this resurrection, it appears he chose to show us what he remembers.

 

So maybe the question isn’t whether our service is visible.

Maybe the question is whether it’s woven.

 

Because what Jehovah records, he values. And what he values…he remembers.

 

Even when no one else does.

 

*To all my dear sisters...and to anyone else who feels invisible...just know Jehovah may not always make our quiet service visible...but he ALWAYS makes it count.

 

[dljbsp]

Hebrews 6:10
 

[Beggar for the Spirit]

Hi Tim,

 

I may have misunderstood.

But I was sad to learn that you were quite sad.

”…pouring out my heart to this lovely older couple when suddenly the sister stepped forward, hugged me tightly”

The following thoughts are a bit long, but I hope somehow these thoughts touch you and raise you up!

 

Spoiler

Many kings, leaders, were rich, wealthy, powerful.

They were very “visible” to others.

Everyone noticed them if they appeared in public.

Yet possibly many were not very generous.

 

being very visible but not generous = not good

 

But the invisible ALMIGHTY is super generous!

So when He sees that 1 of His people, like Dorcas, is imitating Him in this wonderful way, He is proud of them, and He rewards!

 

But many of us of have this inner desire to be noticed.

Maybe we also want to be noticed for the good we try to do.

And maybe at the root of this is the deeper desire to be noticed, viewed, as a “good person” by our friends, family.

 

But the invisible Jehovah, must have been very visible to Dorcas.

Why?

 

Any person can give gifts to others.

We see this at Christmas, birthdays, etc

People can be quite generous on those occasions.

 

But such gifts a few times a year on “obligated” days, may not give rise to love.

In other words, the gifts of Dorcas must have come with something more special!

Her gifts must have came with so such kindness, generosity, goodness, and humility that all the receivers of her gifts felt such LOVE from her! 

 

But her precious inner thoughts and desires, goals, were “hidden”, “unseen”, “invisible”.

For example,

If we give a good part, or give nice gifts, these “visible” acts may receive notice.

But does anyone see or notice your good inner thoughts or your good desires?

 

I mention this because…

I don't think Dorcas was loved by so many because of the clothes she gave.

Why?

The scripture says that Dorcas “…abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy”.

 

What does it mean when a person “abounds” in something?

It means they have abundance, they flourish, they are overflowing!

 

We all know some brothers/sisters that are pretty generous.

But I don't know too many who flourish and overflow in good deeds and gifts of mercy!!!

 

To abound and overflow with so much generosity and compassion, mercy, Dorcas must have asked many times and worked in harmony with those prayers, for Jehovah to develop in her, to a higher degree, these precious and overflowing qualities that are inside her Father Jehovah!

 

Therefore, like Dorcas, you are a rare person as 1 of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

If you are a "JW", then you are never invisible.

Because even if you feel invisible to others, well, Jehovah is invisible to many others too!

 

Yet your “kidneys” are always visible to the invisible One!

Someone might say, "Who cares if your kidneys can be seen on x-ray?"

 

But Imagine what the kidneys of Dorcas must have looked like! 😵

And imagine what your kidneys look like, not on an X-ray, but in the Heavenly "microscope"? 

This is what really makes a person VISIBLE and VALUABLE!!!

Spoiler

*** w04 12/1 p. 14 par. 8 Walk in the Way of Integrity ***
8 David prayed: “Examine me, O Jehovah, and put me to the test; refine my kidneys and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2)

The kidneys are positioned deep within the body.

Figuratively, the kidneys represent one’s deepest thoughts and emotions.

 

Edited March 15 by Beggar for the Spirit

[Timl1980]

Than

1 hour ago, Beggar for the Spirit said:

Hi Tim,

 

I may have misunderstood.

But I was sad to learn that you were quite sad.

 

Thank you, yes...I was very sad that day. I have been going through a lot lately, just various family issues that have been creeping up for years and are suddenly all HERE, at once. But I keep reaching out to my support system, and I'm meeting new brothers and sisters all the time, adding to my support system both locally and on here. 

 

I'm slowly starting to process things and work through them one by one, but it's been a rough past 6 months or so, that's for sure. Maybe even longer now, I lose track sometimes. It's hard to realize that I'm getting older and starting to lose people in my life, but Jehovah continues to be here for me, and I'm slowly starting to adjust my expectations...because this old system will beat you down if you don't. 

 

Thank you for those kind words, and I appreciate the extra research that you did on Dorcas!!

[On the huh]

20 hours ago, Timl1980 said:

I had been standing at the back of the Hall, pouring out my heart to this lovely older couple when suddenly the sister stepped forward, hugged me tightly...and whispered those words into my ear.

This reminds me of the time when a older sister asked me for hug because she needed one.  What she didn't know is that I needed one too that day.  So we both got the hug we needed.❤️

[HerMy]

I shared this experience with a sister, and she felt really good. Thanks for sharing it 

[Giuseppe Romanazzi]

What a profound meditation on the account of Dorcas! That line—'Jehovah resurrected the kind of service that is easiest to overlook'—is something I will be thinking about for a long time.

 

It’s so true that we often measure 'spiritual success' by things that can be documented or seen from the platform. But the widows didn't show Peter a report; they showed him the practical, quiet evidence of love that existed in the 'in-between' moments of life. It’s a huge hug to all those who feel they aren't 'doing enough' because their service doesn't make a loud noise.

 

Thank you for sharing that sister’s wisdom. It’s a beautiful reminder that while the world rewards the visible, Jehovah remembers the woven.