Looking at things differently

The church that I go to is the college mass at St. Vincent dePaul in Albany. I have been there since returning to Albany over five years ago. I also attended that mass when I was in college, so I know the people that run it very well. I actually am one of the people that helps out with the mass. My job is what I call the "Ed Organic position." Ed Organic was a gentleman who was at the church that I grew up at. He was a lector and Eucharistic Minister. He also was the one that did all the odd jobs that didn't happen every mass or took care of any problems that would come up during mass. At St. Vincent's College Mass, that's what I tend to do.
At the end of last semester, because of Roller Derby, I stopped attending. I did let them know that it would happen, so they were prepared for it. Well, this fall, I returned and was surprised to find most of my jobs filled by the students. At first I was really heart broken because I thought that they were trying to replace me because I was transitioning and that I was showing that a little more and it was becoming a problem or something.
Well, on the 5th of October of this year, I came to realize what had actually happened. The people that ran the mass had come to realize all of the work that I actually do. Many of the things are things that just kind of got pushed onto me because I knew what I was doing well enough that it was simple for me to add it on to my duties. But with me not being there for several months, they realized how much I actually do and are greatly appreciative of it. I still do the prayers of petition and I do fill in every once in a while when needed (more at the beginning and end of the semester and less in the middle).
Once I realized what had happened, my heart was much more calm with being there. I still help out as needed, but I am also less worried when I can't make it.