I thank my God for you.
Philippians 1:3
Has someone been a blessing to you recently? Then, tell them. Make your words of appreciation a meaningful gift.
When the beloved Apostle Paul expressed his love for others, he did so consistently, as before God, from within the context of faith, and with the full acknowledgement of the value of friendship. “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Colossians 1:3). “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you” (Romans 1:8).“For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God” (1 Thessalonians 3:9). “I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
Business researchers call it “the missing ingredient” or “the hidden accelerator.” Most managers could transform their workplaces with this missing ingredient: showing appreciation. That’s the focus of a recent book entitled The Carrot Principle by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. Based on a ten-year study that interviewed 200,000 people, Gostick and Elton conclude that appreciation tops the list of things employees say they want from their bosses. Some of the statistics to back up this claim include:
- Of the people who report high morale at work, 94.4 percent agree that their managers show appreciation.
- 79 percent of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as the key reason for leaving.
- 56 percent of employees who report low morale also give their managers low marks for showing appreciation.
Of course, these statistics tap into a fundamental need in all of our relationships: the need to give and receive affirmation and blessing. The authors of The Carrot Principle conclude, “The simple act of a leader [or a spouse, parent, coach, mentor, or friend] expressing appreciation to a person in a meaningful way is the missing accelerator that can do so much but is used so sparingly.”[1]
Who has God used in your life to be a significant source of encouragement, help, and support? From whom have you been personally blessed?
Take a moment to contact the ones that deserve your appreciation. (These three simple tips may help.) (1) Be sincere (meaning, choose your words carefully and intentionally). (2) Be specific – let the other person know exactly how he or she has been a blessing. (3) Be service-oriented: truly serve the other person in your appreciation (a simple inexpensive gift, an act of service for some personal need in their life, etc.).
Going out of your way to thank someone from a sincere heart may be one of the most significant and prolific investments you will ever make in the life of another. And, the person who needs your appreciation may be standing closer to you than you think. Let’s be intentionally grateful for others in our lives.
Blessings.
[1] Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton, The Carrot Principle (Free Press, 2007), pp. 7-14.
