I haven't posted the last two days and decided, since I haven't really done anything holiday related, to do an old school post. Hope that's okay with you all.
Appreciation and Thanks:
So lately I've been feeling very thankful for all that I have, the opportunities that have been blessed to me, and the people I get to share my life with, this morning in particular I felt very appreciative of what my friends are to me and their importance to my life. It got me thinking, what does it mean to appreciate something or someone? The basic definition of appreciate is to recognize the full worth or someone or something. Sadly, I've noticed, that the world becomes a little less appreciative each day. That probably doesn't make much sense just yet, but let me explain. Growing up in a Christian household my brother and I were raised to be thankful. To appreciate what we've been blessed with and to show our thanks. We used to thank God each morning for the day, thank him for our meals and the hands that prepared them, we used to thank him for our parents and for our animals. Unfortunately not all families were raised this way, and I don't mean raised as thankful Christians, but raised as thankful people. Without thanks and appreciation it's easy to take things for granted. The other morning during Prayer and Porridge time Christopher said thank you to God for the day, for the sky, the trees, the grass, the clouds. He gave thanks for something which we see everyday, but sometimes overlook. Many might not see the importance of being thankful for something as simple as the sky, but he did, and it reminded me of how my actual brother (that being Benjamin) and I were raised and how far off those rails we've come. Lately it seems the only thanks we give is when we say a quick "Thank you God for the food and bless the hands that prepared it," and when we owe someone thanks for a task or a compliment. Christopher's giving of thanks brought me back to how it once was, and how we are not appreciating everything we have.
I decided to look at thanks and appreciation from a different angle, so let me pose to you some questions.
Is it important? Is it important to you, to your health, to your soul, to your heart? If it is important, then why do we not give thanks for it, whatever 'it' may be? If it was gone, would you notice, would you survive comfortably and peacefully? If so, is that not important, should we not be thankful for it?
We live our day to day lives without giving thanks for the simple things, the things we don't notice.
So there, that's something to mull on. Giving thanks for the simple things. And the not so simple.
Friend Appreciation
Now, onto how this has impacted my morning. As I said previously I've been feeling very appreciative of my friends and their importance in my life. It's easy to forget about your friends, not their physical form or their name, but what they do and mean to your life. How they affect you in a positive way. With Zac/Leprechaun spending a bit more time with his own family I've started to notice what his presence means for myself and my family/household. And while for the past few weeks I've been telling him that I'm glad and thankful he's my friend. Last night he slept at his own house, meaning he wasn't at our house this morning. After being forced to wake up at the disgusting time of seven thirty(ish) and sitting down, I noticed that today I feel off. I'm not sick, and I'm not hungry. I'm just off, in my tummy, in my head, in my actions. Just off. And I wanted a Zac Hug. But he wasn't there. So I sent him a simple message saying that I missed him. To which he replied, oh hang on, I'll just post the entire conversation. It'll make more sense. Maybe.
Becca: I miss you.
Zac: Haha wow really?
Becca: Yeah. I feel off and just sort of want a you hug. And I want to chill downstairs wit you but you aren't there.
:(
Zac: Mmm... I'll be there later tonight probably. I'll let you know.
Becca: That's fine. I just thought I should tell you so you know you're appreciated for more than chores and buying me/us food. :)
Zac: Haha yeah I know :)
Becca: I know you know. I like to remind you, and others about why they're appreciated.
Zac: Haha well I don't get it often so I'll take it when I can.
Becca; For instence; I appreciate that you spend so much time at my house and in my company. I appreciate that you often buy me things (such as useless cards I think are adorable) and food. I appreciate that you pitch in around the house when it comes to jobs and cleaning. I appreciate that you help prepare and cook food on the occasions when the 'teens' are in charge. I appreciate your unconditional friendship. I appreciate the fact that when mum and dad were gone and Tabby brought something in and Sherbi ate it, that you cleaned it up.
I appreciate that you motivate me, encourage me, support me, and entertain me. I appreciate that when I'm feeling down you're there to comfort me. I appreciate that you sometimes change your plans to spend time with me or help me/my family out. I appreciate the way you can attend to Ben with all his different moods. I appreciate that you've made many changes to your life since becoming my friend. I appreciate your walk with Christ alongside my own.
I appreciate YOU.
So that gives you a little idea of what I mean. Our friends, especially our best friends, do so much for us, and sometimes they don't even realize it. I feel if we take a moment each day to just let them know that they're appreciated, and mean it, that it can change them. For the better.
Summarized Ending
Each day we should be thankful for what we have, for what we've been blessed with. I'm thankful and grateful that I live in a beautiful country and state, and have a large home that is open for friends and family. I'm thankful that I have both my parents and my brother along with our additions. I'm thankful for my friends and how they change me for the better. I'm thankful for the amazing experience that is set out before me. I'm thankful for the sky and the beautiful green grass, for the glistening ocean. Be thankful. Appreciate what and who you have.
Live long and prosper, Godspeed
Becca
xxx
#28DaysToGo #HolidayCountdown
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