Appreciation and Appreciated

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 1:3 

 

In this age where everyone is supposed to get a trophy for trying, it's sometimes hard to truly express to someone that they are really appreciated, even if they aren't the best of the best.  Let's face it, when we feel appreciated we are willing to go that extra mile.  But how do we do that without becoming cliche? 

 

There are many ways to show appreciation:

     How about a handwritten note reminding the person that while no one says it, but their hard work has not gone unnoticed and they are appreciated?

 

I have shared this with several people and I think it still holds true, back when the flooding caused so much damage and chaos, the Deputies were working long hours in the heat and were having to listen to people vent their anger about their situation.  And I appreciated being allowed by some of these officers to tag along with them.  But the thing I found to be most meaningful was a relatively small church came to one of the Regional substations with coffee, cold drinks and some food for the Deputies and each one of the paper cups used for the beverages had a handwritten note to the Deputy expressing appreciation (and here's the kicker) written by children.

 

Many months later, the cups have long since gone to the landfill, but several of those messages still have a place in the visor of some of the Deputies.  

 

Let me put it this way, gifts are easy.....expressing appreciation isn't so much, but is worth the effort.