Ignored.

Ignored. We've all been ignored, overlooked, unnoticed. But sometimes does it feel like no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, you can't seem to get that attention that you long for deep inside? Like you do all this stuff- you get a new hair do, buy new clothes, talk the "cool" way, but you still just can't seem to be seen by anyone?

There's always that group. Those kids that just seem to have it all. They're popular, cute, beautiful. They have all the right stuff- the newest phone, hair, everything that comes to mind of a perfect, popular person. And for some reason we "normal" ("average", "boring", etc...) can't seem to get they're attention.

I'm gonna share a little bit of what I am dealing with in this regard. One thing you should know about me first is that I am an extremely outgoing energetic person usually... So I started going to this youth group in January that a lot of the "cool" people go to from my highschool. When I started going there I only sorta knew a few people, so I was like "Great! I can meet new people" and that kind of stuff. As soon as I got there, I could tell that there was obviously established "cliques" (for the lack of a better word) and I was gonna have to change something for one of those cliques to let me in.

The leaders there are really amazing and they got me talking to some new people (who happened to be some of those cool, populars) and I was feeling good. But as the weeks have gone on, the people that I started to hang out with just started to ignore me... I would get half-hearted "I really don't care who you are" smiles... Some days I would be like their best friend and other days I was a complete alien. Then I met a couple of girls who aren't populars. They're really fun and not as stuck up as some of those other kids.

Well tonight was especially bad. I was already not feeling well anyways, but I went and for some reason I hoped that tonight would be better than usual. I don't even know why I thought that. I knew it wouldn't be. See I go to this Bible study early Thursday morning with some other girls (most of whom are part of the cool group I have been just kinda like shadowing... not being noticed...) so I was hoping that some of them would at least talk to me. Instead I stood around for a half an hour waiting, hoping that someone I knew would actually come and talk to me. Finally Paula got there (she's an unpopular) and we acted like we were our own group. Both of us get ignored there by everyone except the leaders... But we try to act like it's ok...

Being ignored hurts. It makes us feel less than someone else. Like we aren't worth the 5 seconds it takes to say hi. I also think that when we ignore the not-so-pretty girl we are ignoring Jesus. Jesus says in Matthew 25:35-40
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

So... the point? The point is... Why try to hang out with people who won't accept you for who you are? Why not hang out with the people that bring the best out in you. Maybe you are a "cool" person- why not talk to the girl standing in the corner just waiting for someone to take the time to say hi? And if you are an "uncool" person, go find somebody else who isn't talking to anybody and notice them. You'll brighten both your days. Being ignored hurts. Everybody is awesome and cool in their own way. You might not be the prettiest girl or the hottest guy, but everybody is amazing and worth being noticed. So go out and just smile, be yourself, and say hi.