“Being told you’re appreciated is one of the simplest and most uplifting things you can hear.”
This is intended to be my writerly, or long, version of a THANK YOU to those who noticed the Shopper’s Guide article showcasing my and my husband’s books. Our daughter, Eleni LeVan-Miller (a PSU graduate in Communications and a chip off the old block) and Joanne Stiffler, my high school friend (who heralds others like none other), both thoughtfully and kindly, shared the essence of the article on Facebook. We are grateful for the many responses to their posts, in the form of likes or comments. And, to those of you who called, texted and messaged us, equal THANK YOU‘S from the bottom of our hearts. 🙂
BACKGROUND THOUGHTS:
My writing and research style was fully expanded upon while working on my Master’s degree (family studies/sociology – Vermont College) back in the 80s and honed even further when developing curriculum in the Sociology Department at San Juan College, Farmington, NM and trying it all out at Allegany College of Maryland. Then I home-schooled my precious daughter from K-7.
This style includes the dissecting of words and their meanings. My mission, even my calling, was to discern the nuances in the meaning (a philosophical term), of words. This endeavor sort of made me a mini-philosopher, seeking and finding meaning in everything I observed.
Back to my THANK YOU
When you give a gift to someone, it’s not wrong to expect some form of appreciation for the gesture. Usually a “thank you” will do. Some “old-fashioned” folks think it a courtesy to receive it in writing; thus the greeting card industry’s invention of the “thank you note.” Others, a simple “thanks” will suffice.
The Scripture, Proverbs 18:16 – “A person’s gifts enlarge him/her and make room for her/him, ushering the giver into the presence of the great,” has been a part of my personal Charismatic history in the Christian church. I was taught to interpret the word, “gifts” in this passage as spiritual gifts, the same as from I Corinthians, where the word refers to divine gratuities, spiritual endowments or religious qualifications. Not the same connotation as presents (there is some question as to whether the literal translation of the word might mean presents, as one might be brought before greatness when presenting them with valuable presents!! lol in a way).
So, in the Latin-to-English borrowing of the word gift/talent, we understand the word gift in this context as a mental inclination, aptitude or ability, divinely bestowed on us, or innately built into our temperament/personality, to qualify us for our unique path in life. The origins of the word gift/talent (in both Hebrew and Greek) was attributed to a unit of weight or money, a large round coin, having value.
You see where I’m going with this? Our gifts and talents have value. And, when we give them to the world, our not unreasonable expectation is to see them appreciated, for the value they contribute to society. When your gift/talent makes room for you in your culture, there is no greater satisfaction. One of my favorite collected sayings is, “There’s nothing quite like being understood – with no defending, no explanation, just an extension of a hand, an expression that says, ‘I get it’….” B. Diaz
My writing career has been in the background of my day jobs, for decades. But it is my first-love-career. I love writing. And, when someone appreciates it, it is a joy-elevated-into-the-heights. So, to those of you who shared your appreciation, and if you indeed hung in with me for the long version of my thank you, thank YOU so very much; it means awfully much to me; and YOU are a gem in my crown! BLESS YOU 🙂