1 Samuel 23:5 (NKJV)
“And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.”
Everybody wants recognition, and when they don’t get it, they feel cheated and slighted. To be seen and credited is an important part of the human ego, and many people become restless if they are denied this.
Indeed, you might feel inner pain when you have worked hard on something, and you are not acknowledged. Something within you may feel cheated. And this pain can become more crushing if someone else is recognized in your place.
How can you deal with this inner need? First of all, you need to be honest about it. Identify your feelings, talk about them with trusted friends, and own them. Pushing it away does not solve it but only makes it fester more.
Secondly, accept that in teamwork, your leader may be credited with the glory that belongs to the team. It’s part of the way a team operates. Sometimes, everyone’s name may be mentioned, but most times, it’s the leader who receives the credit.
Finally, be satisfied that you played your role in creating success. Many unrecognized small parts make an engine work, and although those parts are not named, they know their importance. You are important even if you are not named.
A side note to leaders. As much as possible, recognize your team members and make them feel important and appreciated. Even if the world credits you for everyone’s work, let each of them feel they matter in the process.
While the Bible says David and his men fought the Philistines, it ended up saying that David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. But we know he didn’t do it alone. Though he fought with this great army of unnamed men, David got the credit.
It is okay to be unnamed. It is okay not to be credited. What matters is that we play our role to the best of our abilities, and let God choose who to publicly honor. One thing that makes pilgrims unique is that we are okay with being unnamed.
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