Out of the Blue :: Appreciation

If you are playing along, here are a few things to remember:

1. New to link-up’s or have questions? Read this first.

2. Since we all dig surprises, please surprise another writer by leaving a comment on her post *or* by giving her a facebook shout-out or tweet. Use the hashtag: #outoftheblue. 

3. Be sure to include the out of the blue banner {see below} in your post or link back to Chasing Blue Skies so your readers can join in the fun. That way, we can all easily find each other.

God is full of surprises, and He uses these different blessings to prove His dependable faithfulness. Out of the blue helps us look expectantly for them as we live our lives exploring them. Today we are focusing on appreciation. What unexpected, surprise appreciation did you receive from someone or extend to someone? How did God use their thank you to make a difference in your day, your year, your life? Or yours in the life of someone else?

How Far Your Thank You Can Go

It seems a lifetime ago, the years when I would snake my way through Miamisburg every Monday through Friday morning towards the little school at the end of 9th street. Each week, I met with every single student there as their music teacher.

When the year came that moved us from that part of the country to another, I knew I’d pack tender memories of sweet students as carefully as fine china.

After announcing my move, the kids’ tears told me they were sad to see me go.

Their barrage of daily hugs told me I’d be missed.

And their stacks of thank you cards told me I was appreciated.

But what surprised me is just how far and wide their appreciation would carry me.

After moving, we called a temporary lodging facility and a postage stamp-sized apartment home for a season. Both were short on cheerful appeal, long on homesickness and familiarity. So when the loneliness crept close, I would pull out those construction papered love notes and soak in their words. They comforted me over and over again.

Long after I left Mark Twain Elementary, those students continued to write and say thank you.

And when many would find me on facebook a decade later {Hey, Mrs. Strong! How are you?}, I was shocked to find their thank yous still warm to the touch.

Those sweet kids taught me – someone they saw 45 minutes each week – a truck load about appreciation:

Appreciation holds your rear view mirror, allowing you to see how the smallest act of kindness exploded love in the life of someone else.

Appreciation is packed down soil that keeps you firmly planted through roaring winds.

Appreciation is light on a dark, closed-in day.

Appreciation is a game changer, a world changer, and it lives hours, days, and years after it’s given.

God says we are to be overflowing with thanks.

No small wonder why.

[badge]Next week’s out of the blue: Recently I wrote a post about mistakes and self-imposed bad grades. Just when I convinced myself I’d gone and flunked a particular day, God redeemed it by reminding me the purpose of living a Christ filled life is to walk in the power of His resurrection, not my own condemnation. By the end of the day, He surprised me with an A. So, for next week’s out of the blue, share about a mistake you made – even an ‘oops’ moment – and how your lesson learned or God’s grace from the mistake surprised you. Your story can lean towards poignant or humorous ~ whatever the Lord puts on your heart. There’s no wrong direction. Let’s link arms and encourage one another through failures redeemed! 

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