Compliments come in all sizes and forms: genuine or insincere; solicited or spontaneous; or, an accolade meant to produce a smile.
I love the tongue-in-cheek truth in this one from Phyllis Diller: “You know you're old when someone compliments you on your alligator shoes, and you're barefoot.”
Here’s another, this time from Cynthia Ozick: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” And, I might add, the very people who most deserve our appreciation.
In my last article I wrote of the importance of counting things that are of greater importance than the difficulties we’re facing these past and coming months. This week, I’ve been nearly overwhelmed with new blessings.
Although I neither anticipated nor solicited kind words, I am so grateful that they have flooded my heart, my ears, and even my email, these past several days. Considering the source of these kind words, I believe they are genuine.
As I read and heard kind words, it motivated me to pick up my pen and hand-write words of thanks to those who work so hard to keep us safe. One card began like this: “To nurses, doctors and every one who works in our hospitals and clinics…” Another, “Thank you to our firefighters who protect us…” and yet another, “thank you to our ambulance service, you are such a gift to our community….” There were and will be others but you get the idea.
Although I have no idea of who or how many people read these weekly articles, please accept my genuine thanks and appreciation. It’s for you that I’ve done this for the past 23 years.
“They stayed several days and then Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem taking greetings and appreciation to those who had sent them.” Acts 15:33 (The Living Bible)
Who can you thank this week?
