Appreciation - part II

This is something that struck me hard on the way home from Steph's tonight. It's a combination of things. It's different things for different people. You can have an appreciation for music or art. You can appreciate that someone has gone through a lot of work to get something done. Then there is a personal appreciation. I have a lot of appreciation for many people. Here's a few...

My mother. She has raised me really well, put up with a lot of crap from me and loved me the whole time. She's taught me a lot. She's encouraged me and supported me in every choice I made (even the bad ones) teaching me when needed, and allowing me to learn life's lessons the hard way when appropriate.

Stephanie. She's one of my best friends. She has been supportive and encouraging as long as I've known her. She has so much grace and love to give. She's given me a lot of great advice over the years. She's one of the most amazing people I know. She helped me get on track with my Christian journey, and is one of the most fun people I know. You know when someone cares about you a lot, because they get mad at you for settling for less. And as for Chris... who is an amazing person. He takes Stephanie as she is, and all that the package includes, and loves her friends and just seems to fit in with everyone... and of course since we hold Steph's opinion in high regard, we wanted to love him, too... and we do!

Dustin & Katie. Dustin is my other best friend. We've known each other over half our lives! We laughed (a lot). In an uspoken kind of way, we both know we're there for each other. And the both of them are so awesome to help me out when I really need it, by offering me a place to live, so I can get my feet back under me and finish school.

Ben. Another of my greatest friends. Whether he knows it or not, he leads by example... and he leads well. After knowing him, I know that you don't have to be a stiff to be a Christian... you can be real, you can be fun, you can be vulnerable.

Mike & Erin. Both of these people have always been very encouraging to me. Mike has always had good things to say about me and to me. A pretty insightful guy. Another one of the kinds of friends that get mad when you get down on yourself.

Patrick. Although we aren't really close friends, he, too, has always had some pretty good advice when it counted. And he's a genuine type of guy behind the jokes and sarcasm. The kind who notices that something might be troubling you, and asks about it... not because it's the "right thing", but because he cares.

Then there are so many more people from my church that are so genuine and caring, it's almost unbelievable. Matt, Janene, Lisa, Jennifer R., Greg, Adam, Mary, Jennifer T., William, and Mary Beth just to name a few - and those are just the ones I come in contact with on a more regular basis... there are many more.

I appreciate all these people (and more) for everything they do for me and for others. "Thank You" doesn't do it justice... and this post won't come close to describing to you the admiration, love, and respect I have for these people.