Is it really that difficult to show appreciation? A little thank you goes a long way. Instead of giving thanks we, too often, tend to look for more. Real appreciation is difficult to find and, when it is found, it should be praised. Weekly, on this very page, we read letters from readers who want to thank others for a kindness shown. When is the last time you actually wrote a thank you note to someone? Or had one of your kids write one?
Let me tell you what brought this to mind.
I recently saw a video of a small child who received one of these new game systems from his parents for his birthday. He was totally shocked. He knew that these systems go for $300 or more. Most kids would tear through the box to get at the games and not consider what the parents had to go through to provide them. Not this kid though. He asked his parents if it was his or if he was going to have to take it back – like a rental system. When the boy was told that it was his he cried and went immediately to his parents arms to say thank you. That in itself was cause enough for me to swallow a newly formed knot in my throat. What he did next caused me, a man who recently celebrated the 4th anniversary of his 39th birthday, to actually sob out loud. The boy went to his room, got money from his savings, and tried to give it to his parents to offset the cost of his presents. What an incredible child. And what incredible parents to bring a young man up like that.
One of the things I told my daughter as she was growing up was to be appreciative of all she got and all she had. I cannot tell you the number of times she made me beam with pride as she made sure all of her friends got gifts at her birthday parties. During Christmas she would wait until last to open her presents so she could watch her cousins open theirs and see the joy on their faces. When it came time to open hers she would look to see who it was from and thank them individually, without prompting, before opening her next gift.
The most amazing thing I ever saw her do in regards to thankfulness was to ask about her tithe on the way to church. She had earned $3.00 that week, at the age of 5, and wanted to know how much she was supposed to give. We told her that tithing meant she had to give 10%, or 30 cents. We told her she could give more but she had to give at least three dimes. She looked at the nearly $4 she had in her purse and said, “Since Jesus died for me I think I will give it all to Him.”
That is appreciation.
