Showing appreciation


Inca, my sweet border doodle, frequently comes to where I am sitting and puts her head on my leg, looking up at me with those warm brown eyes, wagging her tail like crazy. She wants me to pet her, to scratch behind her ears. It seems to bring her immeasurable joy. Such a simple gesture for me, that seems to matter so much to her!
How important is it to be acknowledged, recognized, appreciated? It means a lot to my dog. It also means a lot to people. We like to be seen and noticed, to feel we matter.
I love this insight from a former church leader:
"I find myself hungering and thirsting for just a word of appreciation or of honest evaluation from my superiors and my peers. I want no praise; I want no flattery; I am seeking only to know if what I gave was acceptable." (Spencer W. Kimball, "Evaluate Your Performance," Improvement Era Nov 1969, p. 27; TSWK 489)
It's not about praise and flattery, building the ego - at least, it shouldn't be. It's about wanting to make sure you're doing your job well, doing what is expected. That's a particular kind of feedback, a kind that we should all desire to receive. Those who are in a position to offer that kind of confirming reinforcement should regularly seek for occasions to give it.
Once when I was serving in a position of Church leadership, a brother who was a professional teacher, a supervisor in the Church Educational System, was given a speaking assignment. After that meeting, in which he did an excellent job, he approached me in private and asked, "Could you give me some feedback? How could I improve? What could I do better?" It was a most humble, sincere request. I will never forget how I felt. *He* was the master teacher, and was asking me for suggestions on how to do it better!
I #GiveThanks for my puppy reminding me how easy it is for us to show appreciation, but yet how critical that kind of sincere expression and feedback is.

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