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Showing Appreciation

"Every person knows disappointment and loss in life.  At those moments, we can express appreciation to others in spite of our own disappointments.  One of the strongest evidences of the power of Christ in us is when we rise above our own circumstances and reach out to others with kindness and gratitude." - Lifeway In 2 Samuel 19, King David was in a precarious position. His army had won, but his son (and enemy) had been defeated and killed. Instead of celebrating the victory of his soldiers, he went into the palace and mourned the loss of his son. By doing so, he had risked losing the trust and support of the people. 2 Samuel 19:8 tells us, "So the king got up and say in the city gate, and all the people were told: 'Look, the king is sitting in the city gate.' Then they all came into the king's presence. Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent."

1.  We all either have, will, or are, dealing with some sort of loss in life.  It may be a relationship, a loved one, a job, financial, or any other number of things.  Suffering a loss doesn't make us special.  It doesn't mean we don't need or deserve time to recover and grieve, but it cannot become an excuse to become overwhelmed by self-pity.

2.  Pause for a moment while enduring your losses to look at the those around you trying to help.  Are they offering financial assistance, prayer, advice, or some other form of help to help you overcome?  No matter how small or how big their outreach may seem, remember this - they took their time, their talent, and/or their resources to help YOU.  Be thankful. 3. As I said earlier, suffering a disappointment or loss doesn't make you special any more than getting knocked down makes you special. It's getting back up, it's showing appreciation and gratitude during hard times that makes you special. Is it easy? No! Can it be done alone? No! The only way to have the strength to stand back up in the midst of disappointment and loss is through Jesus Christ. We cannot control others' actions or our circumstances, we can only control our response. It's not surprising that David was sad and hurting from the loss of his son. But if he had stayed in mourning, he likely would have lost his kingdom again. Instead, at the advice of one of his most trusted and long-time advisors, he went out among the people. The Bible doesn't tell us what, if anything, David said. But it is clear that his mere presence and availability to the people let them see that he cared for them and appreciated their support. What will your response be the next time you face a loss? Will you respond by withdrawing, becoming self-absorbed, and full of pity? Or will you rise up and show gratitude to those who are there helping you? Be strong, be thankful, and let others know that you appreciate their support, whatever form it may take.
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