a great compliment

yesterday i was paid one of the greatest compliments i have ever received. i don't bring this up for bragging rights, but more as a wake-up call to how i treat everyone i come in contact with.

here is my paraphrase of what was said to me: "i have never felt more appreciated for what i do..."

of course i was incredibly flattered and felt like i had accomplished one of my primary goals which is to make the people i work with know beyond a doubt that i value their time and effort.

as i thought about this i began to wonder if i show this same level of appreciation to everyone or just those that i think deserve it. did i show a high level of appreciation to our waitress on saturday night? what about the check-out person @ costco the other day?

for some reason, there seems to be an unwritten criteria of the levels of appreciation that i show. fast-food workers & gas station attendants seem to be at one level whereas the lady that cuts my hair is slightly higher. then there is the front desk workers at the ymca where i go to work out that barely get a "hello" from me as i head into the health center.

if i'm supposed to be living out the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12 "do for others what you would like them to do for you.") and Acts 20:35 ("it is more blessed to give than to receive.") in my life, then how i show appreciation shouldn't be dished out in measured incriments. there must be sincerity in my "thank you"s and honesty in my tone and body language.

so here's the deal... "i won't receive it until i give it."

pardon me, but i have a few thank you notes i have to write now.