Note: Today’s devotion is based November 3 rd ’s prayer focus: A memory I am thankful for.
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints” (Philemon 1:7, ESV).
I recently received a letter of appreciation from a person I don’t know well. Apparently, this person witnessed an act of kindness I had performed for a stranger. The acquaintance took note of my actions and subsequently followed suit.
My purpose in sharing this brief story with you is to make the point that appreciation and gratitude are not the same. As an emotion, gratitude involves the feeling one experiences as the recipient of someone else’s generosity. Gratitude is based on a transaction. For example, I am grateful when my wife prepares my favorite meal. A Reds fan is grateful when Cincinnati wins a game. (I am grateful for the increased number of wins at the Great American Ballpark this season.)
However, appreciation results when one’s life has been enhanced by the mere presence and example of someone else. My memory is filled with appreciation for the way in which the city of Cincinnati prayed for the young Buffalo Bills football player whose heart ceased beating for nine minutes. This community’s spiritual support inspired me to pray well into the night.
Appreciation is what I experience when I witness athletes grind through an exhaustive workout. Their example inspires me to exercise more vigorously. Appreciation also leads me to be more charitable in my giving when I see how much others are giving to a worthy cause. As a husband, I appreciate the examples that other men demonstrate when honoring their wives. They inspire me to show greater respect to my own wife, not just for what she does, but for the amazing person she is.
While in prison, Paul recalled his appreciation for Philemon. No evidence exists that Philemon gave assistance to Paul anytime during his incarceration. Nor is there any proof that Philemon wrote a letter of encouragement to Paul during this difficult period. Philemon did nothing remarkable to spark in Paul a sense of gratitude. However, Paul was appreciative of Philemon’s work that was fanning the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire.
The truth is that appreciation is less transactional than gratitude. Appreciation though is highly inspirational. The very things we appreciate about others can motivate us toward becoming a better version of ourselves. The French writer, Voltaire, once said, “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
Appreciation is the fuel for inspiration. This powerful emotion calls each of us to choose our role models carefully. As a reminder, the person we appreciate most is also the one whom we are most likely to emulate.
“I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints” (Philemon 1:7, ESV).
I recently received a letter of appreciation from a person I don’t know well. Apparently, this person witnessed an act of kindness I had performed for a stranger. The acquaintance took note of my actions and subsequently followed suit.
My purpose in sharing this brief story with you is to make the point that appreciation and gratitude are not the same. As an emotion, gratitude involves the feeling one experiences as the recipient of someone else’s generosity. Gratitude is based on a transaction. For example, I am grateful when my wife prepares my favorite meal. A Reds fan is grateful when Cincinnati wins a game. (I am grateful for the increased number of wins at the Great American Ballpark this season.)
However, appreciation results when one’s life has been enhanced by the mere presence and example of someone else. My memory is filled with appreciation for the way in which the city of Cincinnati prayed for the young Buffalo Bills football player whose heart ceased beating for nine minutes. This community’s spiritual support inspired me to pray well into the night.
Appreciation is what I experience when I witness athletes grind through an exhaustive workout. Their example inspires me to exercise more vigorously. Appreciation also leads me to be more charitable in my giving when I see how much others are giving to a worthy cause. As a husband, I appreciate the examples that other men demonstrate when honoring their wives. They inspire me to show greater respect to my own wife, not just for what she does, but for the amazing person she is.
While in prison, Paul recalled his appreciation for Philemon. No evidence exists that Philemon gave assistance to Paul anytime during his incarceration. Nor is there any proof that Philemon wrote a letter of encouragement to Paul during this difficult period. Philemon did nothing remarkable to spark in Paul a sense of gratitude. However, Paul was appreciative of Philemon’s work that was fanning the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire.
The truth is that appreciation is less transactional than gratitude. Appreciation though is highly inspirational. The very things we appreciate about others can motivate us toward becoming a better version of ourselves. The French writer, Voltaire, once said, “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
Appreciation is the fuel for inspiration. This powerful emotion calls each of us to choose our role models carefully. As a reminder, the person we appreciate most is also the one whom we are most likely to emulate.