Do the Right thing, not the Easy thing

If we do the right thing, especially if we act humbly and selflessly, it would seem fairly obvious that we would prefer to be appreciated rather than vilified.  Being vilified or criticized would be particularly hurtful in this sort of situation because we even sacrificed our own well-being for the sake of someone else.  It's like getting hurt twice.  If that's the reception we're going to get then we might as well act selfishly instead and just stop caring about anyone but ourselves.  At least then the criticism would hurt less and we would still have accomplished what we wanted to.
Another way to deal with unappreciative people is to not deal with them at all for a bit.  Go and find people who will appreciate you for who you are and what you've done.   That's what Mary did.
Mary had humbly put God's priorities before her own when accepting His request to carry His Son.  Unfortunately, because this meant that she would be pregnant and unmarried, there was a very real chance that she would be treated like an outcast, that her name would turn to mud, or that she would be lynched.  The sad irony is that if she had acted selfishly and refused God's request, the community would have treated her as well as they would have treated any young woman.

Mary had a lot going on at this time, an awful lot for a teenage girl to handle.  But she knew of Elizabeth, a relative of hers who was quite a bit older than she was, and her unusual situation.  So Mary sought out Elizabeth and lived there for about three months.  This gave Mary an opportunity to cope with a life that seemed to be in a bit of turmoil.  She was looking for someone to talk to, someone who could understand what she was going through, someone who would give her the courage and strength to face what lay ahead.  She was looking for fellowship.

Elizabeth not only appreciated Mary but actually felt priveleged that someone as esteemed as Mary would visit someone as "unworthy" as Elizabeth.  Elizabeth understood the value of what Mary had to offer because Elizabeth had her mind and heart in the right place - turned toward God.  Elizabeth also understood Mary's emotional needs because Elizabeth had a similar experience.  These are the sorts of things we can think about as we pray the 2nd Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, the Visitation, and meditate upon the neighborly love that Mary and Elizabeth shared.

Luke 1: 39-45