You're More Relevant Than You Feel (Even As Life Says Otherwise)

A high school friend messaged me after decades: "I've thought about you 8 million times since 1978." She remembered a powerful conversation about faith and obedience—a lesson she'd carried with her and shared with countless people over the years.

The twist? She had the wrong Terri. That wasn't me.

But here's what struck me: That other Teri remained relevant all these years. Her words rippled forward in ways she'll never fully know.

Maybe you're feeling less relevant then you did ten years ago. The feeling is genuine, but the facts don't support it. Find out why you've got your hands full of purpose.

Listen to this episode, you'll discover why you are very much relevant in your corner of the world—and why small acts are just as powerful as big, bold gestures.

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Transcript

A high school acquaintance reached out to me with a Facebook friend request. Recognizing her face but not her name, I confirmed. And moments later I received a message that said, “I’ve thought about you 8 million times since 1978”. 

Her words left me bewildered.  I couldn’t imagine why she would think about me so often. I responded with, “Wow that’s a lot of thoughts”. She explained back in high school we were sitting in the school library and someone asked me about cutting my hair and my faith. 

She remembered me stating that cutting my hair affected my eternal salvation because it represented obedience to God. Since then, she shared that lesson on obedience to God with many kids and adults. 

Immediately, I realized she had me mixed up with a different Teri in our class. I didn’t know God in high school. I had so many friends and acquaintances who were Christian or Catholic, even Jehovah Witness but I don’t remember any of them inviting me to church or talking about God. 

Yes, my hair was long, but it had nothing to do with God.

I have no idea if my high school friend can contact the other Terri but that Terri and her faith remained relevant all these years.

Reality television shows like “Real Housewives of…”, Big Brother, Survivor, and similar shows scream “Look at me!” “I’m somebody”. 

Social media and reality TV wants you to believe you need it to be relevant. 

That’s not true.

We forget social media needs you to be on it for it to be relevant. 

Another self-esteem killer is comparison. It strikes down your belief that your life matters. 

There are many reasons we feel less relevant: after a job loss, as adult children get busy with their own lives, after retirement, with the death of a spouse, or a progressing chronic medical issue.

The feeling is genuine, but the facts don’t support it. 

Maybe you feel you don’t have a purpose now. A significant loss or change triggers that belief. Well, may I remind you Jesus gave you a purpose. Your relevance is based on a call to action-Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength, soul and love others as you love yourself.

Do that well and you’ve got your hands full of purpose.

There’s no doubt in my mind that bad boy Satan will try to poison you with a bullet point list of your irrelevance. And I say reject it and him. Remind yourself you have purpose, and that God knows how powerful your impact is and can be.

I encourage you to look back at each decade of your life. The relationships, the gatherings, the one on ones with children, men, and women. Appreciate your impact on their lives. 

If you saved cards, thank you’s or notes from people appreciating you, pull those out and read these. Remembering provides a boost to your self-esteem and confidence.

Here’s a few examples to jumpstart your relevance. It starts with giving away something that makes someone else’s life better.

• Your smile
• Your acknowledgement
• Opening a door
• A quick grocery line conversation
• Your thank you to the clerk or worker who just got grief from another customer.
• Listening for the sake of listening
• Your genuine interest in the other person
• Your offer to help
• Your kindness, appreciation, a hug, a cup of patience
• Your joy - it rubs off on others

We think big and bold might make you relevant in someone’s mind, but small acts are overwhelmingly potent. 

Make this statement your daily reminder, “I am and always will be relevant to my Heavenly Father. No one can take that from me.” 

Thank you for listening. I hope you’ll watch my YouTube Channel Anchored Not Anxious for special videos. My website is up and waiting for your visit. Go to anchorednotanxious.com and sign up for the twice a month CareLetter.

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Until next time