Tomorrow is my son Luke's eleventh birthday. As I carry out my plans
to make his day special, I reflected back on last year's celebration...
He woke up with a big smile on his face, excited and ready to open the
gifts and cards he knew were waiting for him. Not that they aren't always
nice to him, but I noticed that his brother and sister were more loving
toward Luke that day. Birthday's do that for us, don't they? They give
us the opportunity to stop and think about how much we really appreciate
that friend or loved one who is a part of our lives. It causes us to reflect
and be thankful for them as we consider what life would be like without
them - a reality for those who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center
attack.
How does our appreciation affect other people? Well, I don't have to tell
you that Luke was enjoying all the extra attention and hugs! Everybody,
no matter how old they are, has a craving to feel appreciated, amen? You
never outgrow it! It is important that we take the time to let others
know how much they really do mean to us - even when it is not their birthday,
just as Moses did with Hobab...
Numbers 10:31, "Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how
we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of
eyes."
You see ladies, appreciation builds relationships. By complimenting Hobab's
wilderness skills, Moses let him know he was needed. People cannot know
you appreciate them if you do not tell them they are important to you!
Benjamin Franklin said it perfectly, "When the well is dry, we know the
worth of water." Why wait till it's too late, amen? Complimenting those
who deserve it builds lasting relationships and helps people know they
are valued. It helps them and encourages them to know the things they
are specifically appreciated for. Now ladies, I'm not talking about flattery
- there is a definite difference between flattery and appreciation! Appreciation
comes from the heart, flattery from the teeth out. One is sincere, the
other insincere... Which are you more guilty of??
Job 17:5, "He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of
his children shall fail."
Think about those who have helped you this month, let alone in days gone
by. What can you do to let them know how much you need and appreciate
them? Tomorrow I will fix Luke his favorite dinner. Afterward, we will
go around the table and each share with him why he is so special to us,
as we always do on birthdays. Can you think of a better conversation to
have at the table than one loaded with appreciation?? Every day, every
year, Luke becomes more precious to each of us as we get to know him more
intimately as only family can. One thing that grieves me greatly is when
I witness family members utilize sarcasm or mockery one toward another.
They foolishly take the understanding they have gained over the years
and use it to publicly poke fun at, tease and jest, bringing undue and
improper attention to one another, carelessly spilling that family member's
quirks into the laps of those who do not know them well. What harm this
does to family unity, not to mention the poor testimony is to Christians
in general. Love covers, it does not expose. In my estimation, we have
lost the art of appreciation! Stop and consider if this is the typical
manner in which you are prone to relating to others. It's not suitable
behavior for those who know the Lord! Take great care that you treat your
friends and loved ones as God would prefer...
Ephes. 5:1-4, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And
walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for
us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once
named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking,
nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."
Yes, God appreciates and expects proper appreciation. Which reminds me...
What about Jesus Christ? How special is He to you? In what ways can we
appreciate our Lord? How well do you really know the Savior? Do you know
Him well enough to appreciate Him - as well as He knows you??
John 1:48, "Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered
and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under
the fig tree, I saw thee."
Wow, the penetrating eye of deity! God sees and knows us so well - and
loves us in spite of all He sees within us.... When we come to God, we
discover that He already knew all about us! He knows where we have been
and what we have been doing - every move we make is observed by Him. That,
indeed, is a quality that belongs only to the Lord, amen? I appreciate
that about my God!! What a comfort that is to me, for I find that I can
entrust my loved ones fully to a God that sees all....
Psalm 139:1-6, "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest
my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all
my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest
it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand
upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
attain unto it."
What a blessing! Ladies, we should want to know Christ as well as He knows
us! Think of all the many names of God there are in the Bible... Do you
know Him by any of those names? Do you know Him as the Bread of Life,
the Chief Shepherd, the Cornerstone, the First and Last, the Lord of Lords,
the Prince of Peace, the True Light, the Wonderful Counsellor, the Man
of Sorrows, the Rose of Sharon, the great I Am... There are so many more
attributes to our God! As we get to know Jesus, our appreciation for Him
will grow. The more time we spend getting to know Christ, the more we
understand and appreciate just who He really is... We may be drawn to
Him initially for His teaching, but we must come to know Christ as the
Son of God who died for us!
Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
When we come to the place where we recognize we are sinners, we'll recognize
how much we NEED Jesus, and our appreciation for Him will immediately
deepen.... Those who realize the depth of their sin can definitely appreciate
the complete forgiveness God offers them! Jesus has rescued all of His
children, whether they were once extremely wicked or religiously good,
from eternal death in hell. Don't you appreciate the wideness of His mercy?!
Are you truly grateful for His forgiveness? Do you appreciate Christ taking
your place on the cross and dying for your sins?? If so, take the time
to tell Him that today, won't you? And then live like you mean it!
Hebrews 13:15, "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise
to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name."
Don't forget the others that have made a difference in your life too,
let people know how much they are appreciated and why. Start at home,
start with your husband and children, and then go from there. Don't wait
for a birthday...
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 1999 Pamela A. Iannello
