Recognition

                De Vos Place. Van Andel Institute. Frederick Meijer Gardens. These are just a few names of well known places in our area, all named after men who started with very little but rose to prominence in the business world. Buildings, parks, monuments and even streets are often named after men and women who have made accomplishments in their lives.

                Nehemiah accomplished much in his life, too. Not only did he organize the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem, he kept the people safe from enemies, he addressed and solved financial disputes and he regularly fed over 150 people for dinner at his own expense!  

                Nehemiah Avenue? Nehemiah Institute? Nehemiah Gardens? As far as I know, Nehemiah never had any worldly recognition for how he had helped his people but I don’t think he really cared. What mattered most to him was that God knew his heart and his actions.  “Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done for these people.” (Nehemiah 5:19)

                It doesn’t really matter if other people notice what we are doing for the Lord, if they know the hours we put into preparing and serving in various avenues, the sacrifices we make either monetarily, mentally, physically or emotionally.   What matters is that the Lord sees, knows and remembers!

Contributed by Lucy Kolean