4:89 – Appreciated, Your Way

#faithbites #faithjourney appreciated

Setting

Some days you feel like a good parents, sometimes not so much, and others you just nail it. Last night was one of them. For the past few weeks, #faithbites has covered feeling appreciated, belonging, fitting in, and having self worth. Last night hit the nail on the head.

My youngest was making American Ninja Warrior courses in our back yard. She was so proud of it. I went out and saw her describe them, run, then and told her how creative she was. When she came back in, all of us were in our phones. She was upset and felt that she wasn’t appreciated. She ran into the guest bedroom. I followed her and talked for a long time. She didn’t think her hard work was appreciated and my made her very sad. We talked about how I feel that way alot and how sometimes we change who we are to get appreciation. She asked if I felt like that as a kid and I told her that I had. It made her feel better to know she was loved and not alone.

I am blessed that she feels she can express her feelings and she is heard. It also helped us both to understand that someone may be appreciating you in a way that doesn’t match how you want to be appreciated.

Today’s Questions: How do you show your appreciation for others? Do they know that you appreciate them?

Scripture

• Matthew 7:12 – “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Reflection

Many have heard of the Golden rule, treat others as you want to be treated. This is the law of the prophets. We all want to be loved and appreciated. How we show our love and how others understand that varies. What we need to do is find out how they want to be appreciated. For some it’s a kind word, others it’s physical touch, for some it’s a rewars or a physical item, and others it’s.jist your time.

Not only that be we need to always encourage.and affirm one another. Just like appreciation, encouraging and affirmation looks different to different people. Our struggle, again, is to find out how they want to be encouraged and affirmed. For my youngest, all she wants is my time, no phones, and physical contact. I can do that..

As we close, reflect on the Golden rule and how you can change your approach to better appreciate, encourage, and affirm others.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me connect with my daughter. Thank you for helping us understand that others need us to support and affirm them.on the way that is best for them. Let us be open and willing to change our approaches to meet their needs. We pray this in your name, Amen.