“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” - Margaret Cousins
Appreciation is a human need. Even animals show appreciation within and among their kind and respond to appreciation positively when shown. When we do something well, we consciously or unconsciously long for some form of appreciation, especially from those who matter most to us. It brightens our lives and motivates us to do more and better. It is the best reward we can receive for our efforts, as it is more precious than money and other awards.
Appreciation adds joy and spice to family life. Appreciation is a genuine and spontaneous expression of love and joy at the others' efforts and or achievements. It works as an incentive to a child to take the next step as it begins to walk; to a young student to study hard and produce better results; to a weak person to struggle against disadvantages and move on in life; to an entrepreneur to achieve greater productivity; to a sports person to improve her/his performance. In short, appreciation is a necessary part of every sphere of life.
In as much as we long for appreciation, it is important that we are generous in our appreciation of others. Only a person with a generous and loving heart can appreciate another's efforts and achievements. Appreciation is different from gratitude. The latter is given for a favour received, but the former is freely given because the person deserves to be appreciated. It is also not to be confused with flattery. While flattery is fake and false, appreciation is genuine and true. Flattery, based on falsehood as it is, destroys the person eventually while appreciation helps one to grow and become better.
One of the motivating instances of appreciation in the Bible New Testament is when Mary visits Elizabeth. Elizabeth's words of appreciation of Mary's new status come straight and spontaneously from her heart: “Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” (Lk 1:42-43).
Another equally inspiring instance of generous admiration and appreciation found in the Bible comes from the mouth of Jesus about John the Baptist: “I tell you, of all the children born to women, there is no one greater than John” (Lk 7:28).
