The Unsung Heroes

Jesus says more than once in the Bible that the first shall be last and the last shall be first (Matt 19:30; Matt 20:16). I totally see that coming about with COVID-19. Who's sidelined right now? MLB players. NBA players. Celebrities. Heads of state. Who's out in the workforce? Grocery store workers. Garbage men. Plumbers. Air conditioning techs. Construction workers. Road graders.  The people we consider "less than." 

Being a grocery store worker isn't glamorous. It's can't pay well. And now it's hazardous to one's  health due to exposure to germs and crazy people. People aren't nice to grocery store workers anyway. And now? Shoppers are stressed and especially mean and grouchy.

The garbage men? Their jobs have just gotten harder with everyone staying home and making more trash. Now they, too, have to face more germs. Trash is stinky and smelly and nasty anyway. 

Anybody have a stopped up toilet or need heat or air? Those techs are out, and they have to enter homes, homes that could be infected. Building maintenance and road repair? Those must still go on. 

I am not discounting the selfless service of the doctors and nurses working round the clock to save lives. I am so thankful for them, too! But they are getting more recognition right now: news stories, social media mentions, the white ribbon campaign. But who's celebrating the "least of these?" They're the ones keeping us going. They're the ones making it possible to have food on our tables, clean and comfortable homes, and safe roadways. They're the ones risking their health and livelihood so we can stay at home and maintain ours.

Thank a grocer today. Thank the garbage man. Protect techs if they come to your home. Wave at the construction workers. The "least of these" should be honored in first place right now. They are the unsung heroes.