The Wonders of Appreciation

A mother’s touch. A father’s devotion. The fresh smell of a baby. Grandfather’s wisdom. Grandmother’s care. A nanny’s loyalty. The creativity of the cook.
A surprise birthday party. Wonderful food. An unexpected gift. Funny-to-the-bone jokes. Belly-laughter with friends. Stimulating conversations.

A gripping book. Exciting projects. Perfect timing. An inspiration. Gentle reminders. Play. Rewarding work.
Aroma of brewed coffee. The smell of frying bacon. Comfort food. Soft pillows. Fresh blankets. Wind chimes. Ringing church bells.
A quiet walk. A moment of solitude. Mountain-top breeze. The glow of sunset. A rainbow. Love. Joy. Peace. Friends. Family. Worship. Prayer. Silence. Stillness. A sense of God’s presence.
Ordinary things? Ordinary experiences? Maybe so. But at the heart of each is the seed and the key to deep contentment; real joy and lasting peace. Most often we fail to acknowledge them as such. Not because we deliberately try to do so. But simply because many times we have eyes for the complex – but none whatsoever for the simple. Yet, it’s the simple that remains etched an lodge in the memory of the heart. They defy season. They defy time. They just get forgotten, it is buried amid; the busyness of life. But remember: it is the simple that sinks in, germinates, grows and bears the fruit of interiority, depth of character, and substance of personality.
If we try to dig deep within, they will resurface. And we will be amazed at what we’ll rediscover. Sprinkled here and there are the unmistakable signs of love. Expressions of kindness. Heart-warming goodness. Indications of grace. From the shadows will burst forth into light images of undeserved blessing. Upbuilding encouragement. Patient understanding. Depth of compassion. Relationships nurtured. Sacrifices offered. Reward of self-giving. We are moved to call them “GOD’S GIFTS”… We are absolutely correct!
But spiritual eyes and SPIRIT in the heart are required to see and to appreciated. They are God’s gifts which have been given. The appropriate response must be to accept. But how can we accept something we don’t even notice nor recognize are there…meant for us? God has many gifts to offer. Many times, though, we are too busy counting, what we do not have, blind to all the good we now enjoy. We are lost comparing ourselves with the “best” we see in others, failing to recognize the “best” in our own unique personhood. Many lose precious sleep over lost dreams, oblivious to the dawning ray of hope that comes with the morning. Pathetically, we strain and struggle to reach for what is way out of grasp, never realizing we hold in our hands the best that we can ever have.
We need to develop the Spirit’s language of APPRECIATION. Without appreciation, it is difficult to be grateful. Without appreciation, we will feel deprived. Without appreciation, we’ll just sit in the mire of self-pity and unreasonable, unmet expectations. Without appreciation, the soul can be “beauty-blind.”
Without appreciation, our life can never be punctuated by the wonderment that our every moment is filled with gentle reminders of God’s loving presence.
Henri Nouwen said, “APPRECIATION cannot be an occasional afterthought. It is a way of life in which the present is celebrated, the giver is thanked, and we live with a sense of amazement that so much has been placed in such undeserving hand.” A Spirit-led, heartfelt appreciation is the road to walk, the way to follow, the path to keep…that leads to a RICH HARVESTING OF LIFE”.

nice post

thank you...nice tlaga xa..hehe..maka struck tlaga ang message nya..hehe...

nice post ROSE..,

hhmm..., gnda ng message..

oo..it makes me think of my moral reflection..hehe...