I recently came across the following story by John Kenneth Galbraith, related in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, and illustrating the dedication of one Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's faithful and devoted housekeeper:
It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you.” When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."
This past Sunday, we recognized our support staff at our church. This devoted group of men and women are what the ancients might have termed “unsung heroes”. Simply put, they do not get the recognition they deserve. Moreover, even when we do recognize them, it is often too little and too late.
And yet, without them, our church would never be able to fulfill the ministry calling we have been given.
Indeed, who among us could even begin to accomplish the things required of us without the invaluable assistance of others? For this reason, I thank God for the vital assistance of the ministry team members at our church.
Pastor Jim Martin has put it well:
Much like Emily Gloria Wilson our role as a Christian is simply the role of a servant … nothing more … nothing less. It is not the recognition, the fame, the accolades, the honors, the “name-in-the-paper,” the “getting-published” syndrome…, getting elected…, being invited to preach at various churches … but it is simply going about the task that God has placed in our hands.
The servants of God are the glue that holds together the earthly Kingdom of God. It is those men and women – the young and old – who just go about the task at hand because it needs to be done. They are the people who see something that should happen… that needs to happen… that ought to happen … and they just do it … unnoticed … unheralded … no praise … no thank you needed … no name in the bulletin … no mention from the pulpit.
They are the “Emily Gloria Wilson’s” of the world. Their loyalty is unwavering. Their commitment is outstanding. They listen to only one master. They know whom they work for. And may it be said of us that we were faithful servants of the Most High God moving the Kingdom ever onward one act at a time.
Amen, brother! Well said. May we remember to express this sentiment more than merely once a year. May we remember to do so on a regular and consistent basis, joining with the Apostle Paul and as he expressed his thankfulness for the unsung heroes of the churches of Philippi (Philippians 1:3), Rome (Romans 1:8), Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 1:3), and many more with which he served.
SOURCE: http://pastorjimmartin.blogspot.com/2012/06/on-being-servant-to-one-master-hebrews.html.
The Galbraith story is available widely on the internet. Several sources trace this to Reader's Digest, December, 1981. But the actual book, titled A Life in Our Times and containing the memoirs of John Kenneth Galbraith, was first published in its hardcover edition by Houghton Mifflin in 1981 and then in its paperback edition by Ballantine Books in 1982.
It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House. "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him." "Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him." "No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you.” When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."
This past Sunday, we recognized our support staff at our church. This devoted group of men and women are what the ancients might have termed “unsung heroes”. Simply put, they do not get the recognition they deserve. Moreover, even when we do recognize them, it is often too little and too late.
And yet, without them, our church would never be able to fulfill the ministry calling we have been given.
Indeed, who among us could even begin to accomplish the things required of us without the invaluable assistance of others? For this reason, I thank God for the vital assistance of the ministry team members at our church.
Pastor Jim Martin has put it well:
Much like Emily Gloria Wilson our role as a Christian is simply the role of a servant … nothing more … nothing less. It is not the recognition, the fame, the accolades, the honors, the “name-in-the-paper,” the “getting-published” syndrome…, getting elected…, being invited to preach at various churches … but it is simply going about the task that God has placed in our hands.
The servants of God are the glue that holds together the earthly Kingdom of God. It is those men and women – the young and old – who just go about the task at hand because it needs to be done. They are the people who see something that should happen… that needs to happen… that ought to happen … and they just do it … unnoticed … unheralded … no praise … no thank you needed … no name in the bulletin … no mention from the pulpit.
They are the “Emily Gloria Wilson’s” of the world. Their loyalty is unwavering. Their commitment is outstanding. They listen to only one master. They know whom they work for. And may it be said of us that we were faithful servants of the Most High God moving the Kingdom ever onward one act at a time.
Amen, brother! Well said. May we remember to express this sentiment more than merely once a year. May we remember to do so on a regular and consistent basis, joining with the Apostle Paul and as he expressed his thankfulness for the unsung heroes of the churches of Philippi (Philippians 1:3), Rome (Romans 1:8), Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 1:3), and many more with which he served.
SOURCE: http://pastorjimmartin.blogspot.com/2012/06/on-being-servant-to-one-master-hebrews.html.
The Galbraith story is available widely on the internet. Several sources trace this to Reader's Digest, December, 1981. But the actual book, titled A Life in Our Times and containing the memoirs of John Kenneth Galbraith, was first published in its hardcover edition by Houghton Mifflin in 1981 and then in its paperback edition by Ballantine Books in 1982.