APPRECIATE

I was so excited today to see our mail carrier.  She has been gone since May when her husband was in an accident.  I greeted her at the mailbox, asked how her husband was doing, and let her know that I had missed seeing her at the mailbox everyday.  As I walked off Rhonda said, “I’m so glad to know that I was missed!”  This reminded me of the many other people that come into our lives that we would miss if they weren’t there. 

Take a minute to think of those people in your life that you would miss if they weren’t around.  It makes me think of Freddie, our tire guy, who was tragically killed.  I wonder if he knew how many people cared for him?  I wonder if people took the time to let him know how much they appreciated him?

God placed our hearts in the middle of our chests.  This pump enables our bodies to live, but it also has another important job.  This job is to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and care for others.  God created all of us in His image.  He wants us to be like Him.  He wants us to care for each other.   He wants us to love as brothers, accept one another, help one another, and encourage one another.  He wants us to appreciate each other.

Feeling appreciated lifts people up.  One of my favorite books, “How Full is Your Bucket” {Tom Rath} discusses how we should lift people up and fill their buckets.  When we fill buckets we pass on positive energy, which in turn others will pass on. 

With that being said, open your heart and show those today that you appreciate them.  A brief interaction of appreciation affect others health.  “PASS ON TO PRESS ON” feelings of appreciation and experience lasting changes in your life and others.  Don’t miss the opportunity to let others know how you feel about them.

John 13:34-35New International Version (NIV)

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

“By appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.”  Voltaire

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust

Great article for extra read:

http://www.discipleshiptools.org/apps/articles/?articleid=37155&columnid=4166