Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Inspirational
Inspirational Tips by experts
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Inspirational Inspirational Tips by experts |
|
|
|
|
Using Appreciation to Make a Difference
When in 1996 a local Secondary School opened, the staff decided to create a tradition to prepare Christmas Hampers for those in need. Each advisory class (of around 18 students G9-12) would adopt a family to help out. The students only know how many in the family, ages of the children, and whether they have any food allergies. Every year, 65 -70 hampers are delivered to families. Inside each hamper is a note from the school principal wishing the family a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy new year. It explains how the hamper was put together by the students and adds (I quote) " We hope that this hamper will bring you joy at this special time of year as it was put together with much love and care" What would you think the experience of delivering a hamper would be? In my minds eye I would imagine this scenario? knocking at the door, and seeing the face of the mother light up, excited voices and delighted faces of children gathering at the door to receive the four or five large boxes, all wrapped in Christmas paper being delivered. I would imagine seeing the relief and gratitude on the mothers face, perhaps moist eyes, as she realizes there will be plenty of food to go round this Christmas. She may feel, perhaps, amazement and a little overwhelmed that total strangers would go out of their way to be so generous. Seeing those things would be all the reward those students needed for their selfless giving, and what a memory to have in the impressionable teenage years. Unfortunately this imagined scene is not reality in the experience of the school. One of the teachers told me one of three things normally happen. When the hampers are delivered (either by the teacher or a trusted Grade 12 student), sometimes there is a thank you, sometimes a terse "put it over there", and sometimes no one answers the door. Now I understand that it's is embarrassing and humbling to receive, and many people find it very difficult, and may not be able to show their appreciation in person. There are other ways to show gratitude and say thank you, a thank you note to the school, a phone call or a letter. Sadly this seldom happens. I was shocked!! The school has probably prepared over 700 hampers since 1996, and seldom received any acknowledgement whatsoever. The teachers reassure the students that the hampers were appreciated, and the school keeps on giving. At this time the students are planning how they can help the victims of the tsunami. The teacher's comment "The students are amazing!" There is a well-known saying that it is better to give than receive; I would say that it is also easier to give than receive. I don't know why it is so hard to show real appreciation when we receive something, but it is not just a cultural or generational problem. In the gospel of Luke we learn that it was difficult over 2000 years ago.Leprosy is a terrible disease that eats away at a person's flesh, and is very contagious. In biblical times there was no cure. To have leprosy meant living outside the town, being ostracized from society, no longer able to live a normal life with your family, maybe never being able to hug your children, only being able to speak to them or see them from a distance. If you had leprosy you had to walk about warning people by ringing a bell and shouting 'unclean, unclean' so people would keep away from you. Can you imagine living like that! Jesus met ten of these lepers one day, and told them to show themselves to the priest, as they went they were healed. Not only was the pain and suffering gone, but also it also meant, their life style was to be transformed, they could be reunited with their family, work, and be part of community again. Luke's account tells us that one of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He THREW himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. Luke then added, 'and he was a Samaritan,' an enemy of the Israel, who would not know or worship God. Only one out of ten showed gratitude for such a huge life-changing miracle! We are so blessed by God and by the people around us. Yet in a society, which seeks 'instant' satisfaction, it is easy to take many things for granted and not really demonstrate appreciation. We are raised to say 'thank you', but so often it comes out of our mouths automatically with out really thinking about how grateful and appreciative we are. Our society has much expectations- good service, to be served, to have meals, to be warm and comfortable in a home, and because we're used to this kind of life style it's easy to lose a sense of gratitude and appreciation. Saying thank you is sufficient, and is the right thing to do, yet have you considered how by going out of our way to show appreciation we can bless others and make them feel valued. When we show appreciation, we can make such a difference to someone's day. A thank you note, a surprise gift, a letter commending good customer service to an employer, or a smile and a word of appreciation to the cashier at the checkout are some of many ways we can show gratitude. Often showing appreciation, a short time after someone has blessed us, touches a person's heart, as it demonstrates that what he or she did was noticed and appreciated. It costs us so little to take a moment to take someone aside to say thanks, you did a good job, and yet it can mean so much! Being a thankful people is God's heart for us. Scripture tells us many times to give thanks, give thanks to God, and also to those around us. To be known as a person who is thankful, showing gratitude and appreciation for all things that we have been given reflects God's love to the world around us Our life is a gift, our health, all we have, and all the ways that people serve and give to us are gifts, not rights we can demand or expect. Col 2v7 encourages us to be overflowing in thankfulness. Let 2005 be a year when we grow in our thankfulness, and take more time to show others our appreciation for them as individuals, and the things that they do. Barbara White, a former Principal and teacher, is now president of Beyond Better Development. As a speaker and author, Barbara brings her passion and expertise to work with people to help them grow towards excellence and their unique potential in their personal and professional life. For more information visit her website, http://www.livingbeyondbetter.com and sign up for her free newsletter "Growing Beyond Better". barbara@livingbeyondbetter.com
MORE RESOURCES: See the complete list of Articles on Inspiration here Have a look at Best Selling Books on Inspiration
See also : Other articles on
Depression,
Grief-loss,
Elder Care
Relationships
Latest info on : Inspiration
A long run to help veterans. Share your inspirational LA Marathon stories - Los Angeles Times (blog)
Google News
Why not be an expert yourself ? If you can write on
any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your Submit
your article here |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Scare Fear Out of Your Life A reader asks: "Many times in my life I have let fear rule me and stop me from doing something I wanted to do. Do you have any suggestions for how to handle fear?"There are many successful strategies for dealing with fear in your life. Change Begins With Choice Any day we wish we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Arranging Stepping-Stones The greatest achievements were obtained by those who took one step after the next. They resolved to succeed, and moved little by little toward a worthwhile goal. The Emmaus Journal ~ Quietness The Emmaus JournalQuietnessAs a state of being, quietness is in direct contrast to the World we occupy and the American Lifestyle altogether. The perpetual noise index is at its highest peak within our structured cities that now seem to stretch into endless waves of suburbia. Big O Growing up, I remember my Dad had some really good friends. They had the most amazing, positive and magnetic energy. Super Mom, Wonder Woman, Energizer Mommy or Just Mom Have you ever sat down to watch the evening news and flashes a News Report about a woman that died with 100 cats, house full of trash and stacks of newspapers to fill 100 dump trucks? In my single days, I use to live by a lady like this. The entire neighborhood would talk about her but none of us ever went over there to see if she needed anything or if I could help her clean her house. Stand Up! One of the most undervalued blessings is God's will to make every individual a unique creation. It takes all kinds of people to do the great work of the Lord's kingdom, and it's a good thing that each of us has special talents, callings, and gifts to serve this purpose. Starting A New Disaster Relief Program I believe that it is an amazing time in our history. Mankind is truly showing his/her capabilities, they are observable because all thoughts are brought into physical being as symbols of thought. Something About Nothing Buddhists study nothing because they have found that you must know nothing before you can know or create anything.I have devoted most of my time over the last five years in the study of the principals of manifesting. Lesson Learned Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 9, 2002I was involved with a man separated from his wife. We connected on an extremely emotional level and were in the process of building a future. Dread Disease Dragged Out My Best In denial, I was slow to accept Multiple Sclerosis. Who, after all, would embrace a diagnosis of the dread disease of no known cause, and for which there was no cure?"The mission of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is to end the devastating effects of MS. For Inspiration Watch a Kite Fly Against the Wind Given a steady wind and a properly balanced kite, the kite will soar to great heights. But if the nose of the kite is pointed downward, the same wind will send it crashing into the ground. Surrender, Complete Healing, and the Garden of Eden In 1982, I found myself in Eden. What I found out from my brief visit there is that the Garden of Eden is not a piece of real estate, but a state of being-the reality matrix in which human beings were designed to thrive. Trusting Yourself and Others How come, as women, we always second-guess ourselves? Are we not confident to choose a mate that has the characteristics of what we yearn for or start and operate a business that we have a passion for? Who can you trust?For most of my teenage and adult years, I'd sit in front of my computer going over a wish-list of things to accomplish before growing old. Unfortunately, others tried to degrade my dreams, dissolve my opinions, and demean my competency. There Must Be More To Life Than This If you suffer from a nagging feeling of "there must be more to life than this", you're not alone."There must be more to life than this" can be an extremely de-motivating force. Passion: What It Means To Live With It Passion can guide you, not just to live, but to live with purpose. Throughout my professional career, I've had most fortunate opportunities to associate with numerous high profile individuals and organizations, including Forbes 400 successes, politicians, celebrity entertainers and athletes. Brilliant Autumn: Reaping a Bounteous Harvest "But if in your thought you must measure time intoseasons, let each season encircle all the other seasons, And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing." - Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)The low afternoon sun cast soft rays through a cool October breeze. Escape into Reality and Find Love The early months of this year brought major challenges, as well as blessings, for many folks. They certainly brought many unique challenges and blessings for me. Taking the Leap of Faith So often we stop and look at our lives and say silently within, "What am I doing here? What is this life I have chosen and is it all that I wished for?" " Am I living my purpose? Is this what I really intended to achieve in this life experience?"Have you ever asked yourself questions like these? Have you stood on the edge of a precipice in your mind's eye and known it was time to take a huge leap of faith? What does that feel like?If this is something you have experienced in your life, or are in now, remember to stop and take a deep breath. Realize that these times are when you are more deeply connected to your soul and soul purpose. Body Calling: Eye Sight Cured Naturally Lorenzo C. an inspiring young teenager who fell to the inevitable statistics of a major automobile accident.
|
|
You are here |
|
| Inspirational Tips Home | Inspirational Tips - Complete list | |
|
| Main Home | | Meditation Corner | |
|
|
| Recommend us | |
|
[About
us] [Contact] [Privacy
Policy]
Copyright 2006, Meditation
is Easy.com, All
rights reserved
