“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

I was sitting in art class next to my best friend coming up with ideas for the next assignment. As we start to craft all our pieces of construction paper and ripped magazine I look away from my masterpiece and realize my friend has stolen my idea and starts bragging about her art to our classmates. My third grade self was boiling with anger -- my beautiful art has been stolen and unaccredited for!

That day I was so upset I made sure I would get credit for my ideas and my hard work. Until it happened again, only, no one stole anything from me, but my work was pushed aside, even though it was the top choice to be put on our annual Renaissance day program booklet, that year they decided on two designs.

The two separate booklets were being handed out and I watched as the Principal said, “Wow this is so beautiful, and this was drawn by…” yep, not me. I wanted to snatch that booklet out of her hand and give her mine. “Actually, this is the one that you probably want to compliment.” Of course there is no use in being prideful and I continued to smile as I watched my art go unnoticed by the one person I hoped had noticed it. I was in 6th grade.

So from a young age, I felt like my hard work was neglected. Then it'd happen again and again and again, in many different ways.

I start a design, someone else finishes, and suddenly I’ve never made any contribution. I build up friendships only to be pushed aside while I watch photos being posted online. I made sure everyone on the team knew they belonged, but only the captain gets the credit. I worked super hard to deliver people’s needs and make people happy, but the supervisor only recognizes the outspoken one.

Sometimes I think that not once in my life has anyone noticed the hours and the heart I pour into the contributions that I make and the commitments that I hold onto. And I feel like I have no control over it. I could brag. I could show off. But that is not the kind of person I am. I can suck up to people, but I am not seeking a person’s approval.

I don’t want to feel like everything I've done was taken for granted.

But here and there I get a message from a friend. A kind, sweet message telling me how they appreciate all the little things I do. Sometimes just a conversation that ends in an awkward complimenting session.

When I was working over the summer, I knew my supervisor didn’t recognize the hard work I put in, only the mistakes I’ve made. One day. one of our building techs came by and told me, “You know, you’re my favorite. All the other guys come in grumpy in the morning, but you have this smile on your face that just makes their day better….” At that moment, I realized that even though my work isn’t being noticed, I am constantly making an impact on people’s lives.

It's not about the work, but about the people.

Fairly recently my friend Carolyn shared a video about how she became a Christian. I made sure to comment and share my excitement with her, and later she told me how I played a part in this huge change in her life--I had barely known her at that time. These were her words:

"When a lost person looks out in the world all they see is strife. But when they look at someone full of Christ's love overflowing to others, they notice there is something different."

Maybe one day I will finally get proper credit for whatever work it is I will do, Maybe one day I could make a name for myself. But, day after day I realize that doesn't matter to me anymore. Maybe I've grown numb to it, but as cliche as it gets, I am telling you, it’s the little things in life that count.

Don’t ever give up because no one has noticed. You are touching people’s lives along the way.