Wednesday's Word: APPRECIATION

I recently opened a message from a young adult I’d had involved in my ministry over a decade ago, and I couldn’t help but tear up. The message was a note of APPRECIATION for the relationship and ministry I had with her all those years ago. As I read the note, I understood she was thanking me, and yet in that moment, I felt as if I were the one receiving the gift. 

Giving thanks, showing APPRECIATION, seems like a pretty simple request; the opportunities are endless for such an assignment. And yet we often find ourselves going about our day, forgetting to give away even one “thank you”. 
 
Our words of APPRECIATION may be the support the young mom needs, as she wrestles with her value as a parent. Or what our co-worker needs, as he wrestles with how to make it through one more day on the job. Our words of APPRECIATION could be what our spouse needs to change the trajectory of our marriage. Or what an elderly neighbor needs, as she feels she has nothing more to offer the world. Our words of APPRECIATION may be the words that change, not only someone’s day, but his very life. 
 
I pray we go about this day, intentionally looking for opportunities to bring people joy, through the unexpected gift of APPRECIATION. Whether God nudges us to write a thank you to someone who walked with us a decade ago, nudges us to give a hug of APPRECIATION for the one walking beside us today, or perhaps nudges us to show our APPRECIATION to the stranger at the grocery check-out, we can trust that our God will use the gift we are offering in just the right way. 
 
In addition to a couple of my favorite verses on the topic of encouragement and thanksgiving, I have also included the popular story Jesus told us, about the healing of the ten men with leprosy. There are many lessons within that story, and one of them definitiely points to the gratitude we need to share with others and with our Heavenly Father. I hope you will be encouraged today, as you take time to read these scriptures.

And please know, I sure APPRECIATE you!

Philippians 1:2-4 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
 
I Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
 
Luke 17:11-19 ¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[a] met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Misty Cramer is an author and speaker who enjoys walking alongside others in this journey we call life. Her deisre is to encourage others, as she shares the hope Jesus provides in the midst of life's darkest challenges, as well as it's brightest triumphs. If you would like to receive “Wednesday’s Word”, as well as other encouragement, you can subscribe to her website, https://mailchi.mp/7844a4ba7f8b/welcome and follow her on Instagram @mistydawncramer and Facebook, Misty Cramer, Author & Speaker. She would love to connect with you!  

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