There is definitely a season in every person’s life where the world does not seem to stop. The season where we are constantly going to and from school, work, school clubs, leadership roles, friends, family...the list continues. As a college student, it can feel like we are constantly busy and have no time in our day to even catch a breath. During this season of constant busyness, we often don't take the time to show the people important to us our gratitude for them. We know how much we love all of the friends and family in our lives, but do they know? Did they know how grateful you were when they waited to watch the next episode of "The Mindy Project" with you? When they bought you coffee without even asking? How about the time they walked across campus to visit you during a boring day at work? Maybe the time they were honest with you and helped figure your life out when it was a complete mess?
Everyone has had a bad day, and who is always there to pick up our pieces? It is our family, our friends, and the people we look up to most that are there to care for us. When you are that family member or that friend willing to go out of your way for someone else’s needs and do not feel appreciated or loved back, it begins to be hurtful and slightly disrespectful. We are humans who love to feel appreciated and accepted by those we love, so not receiving that appreciation when we constantly give and give can result in withdrawal in that relationship. With the understanding of what it feels to be unappreciated, it becomes equally important to show others, who go out of their way for us, how much we love and appreciate them. Appreciation goes beyond little acts of service, and often the best times we can show others we appreciate them is during the emotional conversations they have with us.
Giving and receiving acts of service is one of the best forms to show love and express love as well. It shows how well you know the person and how to best serve them. However, we only truly feel accepted and loved when we feel comfortable enough to self-disclose our most inner thoughts to someone else. Even when they see us on the bad and dark days, by some miracle they take the bad with the good and still choose to love and accept us. Some people only have one or two friends where they can truly be themselves, and there some people seem to have endless. No matter how many close friends you have, they are your friend for a reason, and God knows their purpose in your life. Life is made up a serious of choices that lead us to the people who will always leave a mark on our hearts -- some of the best relationships happen spontaneously and in no coincidence.
It is the little moments that matter, like the moment your friend genuinely asked you how you were doing. Thinking of the time they canceled their Friday night plans because you needed them more, or the little games you play to make each other laugh. It is all these little moments where we show our dearest friends how much we love them for just being their awesome self. It is not every day you meet someone who is meant to be in your life for the long run, so be sure to show them how much you love and appreciate them.
