Appreciation

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (MSG)

I sometimes don’t say “Thank you” enough. I often am so focused on whatever it is that is front and center in my mind, day, thinking, etc. that when someone does something for me or accomplishes something that I have asked them to do or some other scenario I just fly past it, not a word of thanks or appreciation.

I know part of the reason for this is that often whatever it is that has been done was something that I believe should have been done anyway. In my slightly strange way of viewing the world if you have said you will do something or there is something that is a part of your responsibilities or in some way it is what is expected or required of you I just don’t share gratitude for someone accomplishing it.

Two things have happened recently that have made me more aware then ever of this limitation in my humanity and the need for it. One was the realization that entering my thirteenth year at Vermont Hills UMC the conference hierarchy doesn’t really notice us. We are sort of forgotten. Mostly this has happened because this church and I are a good match and there aren’t any flags being raised to draw attention to me or this church. From the conference’s perspective we do what is required and expected of us and not really anything more. We don’t have a fantastic new model of ministry to trout. We haven’t had an increase in membership to draw attention our way. We are just doing what we are expected to do as a local church and me as its pastor. But we are doing things that matter. Just the fact that we are present here and engaged in our community is something that needs to be recognized and appreciated.

The other thing that happened recently was my being a major part of the leadership of the General Conference 2016 Host Team. I took hundreds of hours of personal time, family time, and time away from my congregation to volunteer to help make sure that everyone who came experienced extravagant hospitality. And by every account I have heard we did just that. Me, the Host Team, our hundreds of volunteers went above and beyond expectations and past experiences and we hit it out of the park. But not a word has come to me from the General Commission on General Conference. This is the branch of our general church that has responsibility for all of General Conference and the local Host team works with and for them. No email thanks, no card of appreciation, not a letter to the Host Team chairs that was shared with me. Nothing. The herculean effort we put out seems not to be appreciated by the General Commission.

It sounds like I am whining and seeking pity. Maybe I am but what I really want to get across is that a word of thanks can make all the difference. A simple card, a quick email, a letter of appreciation can be all that is needed to make someone feel that all their sacrifice, their effort, their commitment has been noticed and is appreciated. People almost always go above and beyond what is expected of them but they cut back when they feel no one notices, cares or is appreciative of what they do and give. It all has to do with connections, with relationship. If you appreciate me and what I do that helps or impacts you I feel good about our connection and am willing to give you more. But if you dismiss me, ignore my efforts, or don’t seem to value me then I pull back and am hesitant to give you more. This isn’t about ego stroking or requiring some kind of “payment” because that isn’t what I’m writing about. I am simply writing about the basic human act of appreciation that we all want, need and can give.

So I am trying to practice my appreciation of others. Saying thanks when a server fills my water. Letting someone who has done something for me know I appreciate their effort. Dropping a note off when a shop or business has done a good job. Even taking the time to fill out that survey or do that review so that my appreciation is expressed and registered. I encourage you to up your appreciation quotient. It is something simple and easy to do and it does make a real difference in peoples’ lives and in the world.

And by the way, if I have failed to thank you in past I apologize. I am very thankful for everything people do for me. I hope you know that you make my life better, easier and more full. Thank you!

God, help me to notice what others do for me. Help me to appreciate the time, effort and all that goes into what they do. Help me to say thank you. I pray for all those who give, and give, and give and never are noticed, thanked or appreciated for what they do. Amen.