Grateful Gratitude

First of all I want to say a big "Thank you loyal readers"!  The following is an excerpt from my book "Stuff in my Attic".  I do hope you will appreciate it.

Appreciation

How often do you hear, “I appreciate what you did for me.” Or, “I appreciate all you do.”  No matter how often we hear it, it can never grow old. 

  I am a huge Jim Henson fan. (I have the complete series of Fraggle Rock, the complete Muppet Show run, all the Muppet movies, and Muppets Tonight.)  I am fortunate to own a few rare documentaries on Jim, and, the love of his creations is coupled with the admiration and respect of his friend and co-worker Frank Oz. 

Frank's close relationship and love for Jim was apparent when he would tell a wonderful story about a particular Christmas present that Jim had made for him.

In their Saturday Night Live days, Jim asked Frank to go into his dressing room, take off all his clothes, hold his hands over his genitals, and look into the lens of a camera with a shocked expression as Jim took a photo. Frank cautiously but happily obliged. As Christmas approached Jim gave Frank his gift. It was a sculpture of sorts, consisting of a large Bert holding a shelf of little Bert's all looking back at the big Bert. Jim had taken pictures of all the Creature shop people responsible for making Bert. He cut each face out and glued them onto the shelf. He then cut out the pupils of big Bert's eyes and replaced them each with the photos of Frank naked. 

In May of 1990, Jim passed away due to a bacterial infection in the lungs. 

         Life Magazine© Cover – May 1990

At the London memorial for Jim Henson, Frank Oz delivered the following eulogy, which highlights a lesser-known aspect of Henson's character—his talent for appreciation:

“  ... After the service in New York...I wandered around for days and weeks like many of us did. And, while I worked, and while I was with my family, I thought about Jim. I couldn't help but think about Jim.

I thought of course about what an insane, profound loss it was. And then of course so many images and memories of Jim came back to me. So many images. But one image kept coming back to me—just a fleeting moment. And it was not of Jim performing or directing. It was not of Jim with his family. It was not of Jim with his colleagues. And it was not Jim working so hard, and it was not even of the great, stupid, silly fun that we all had with Jim—that I had with Jim.

But this one image kept coming back to me...Just of Jim, standing, with his arms folded, just having a very warm smile—looking. And, it wouldn't go away. It just kept on coming back. I realized it was Jim, appreciating. I know where I got that image from, I think. It was from the Muppet Show here at ATV or The Dark Crystal, the movie, or wherever we were shooting when we would look back at the playbacks. The television monitor would be right there. We would shoot the movie or shoot the performance, as many of you know. And then we would play it back and judge it. Often we would judge it and say, “Oh that was terrible. Let's do it again.” But so many times I would see Jim—just appreciating it.

Many people see Jim as an extraordinary creator. I realize that I see Jim first as an appreciator. He appreciated so much. He loved London. He loved walking on the Heath. He loved...Parliament Hill, flying kites. He appreciated it so much. He appreciated his family and his colleagues and his Muppet family. And he appreciated the performances and design of a puppet. He appreciated the art objects that he might buy. He appreciated the detail in a Persian rug. He appreciated...just beauty.

Many times we would have meetings. I've known Jim for twenty-seven years now and this would always happen. And I'm sure some of you will remember. We would have a meeting and if it was a pretty day outside, he'd say, ‘Gee, couldn't we go outside? Couldn't we? It's nice out there. Couldn't we just go outside? Why sit in here?’

And he appreciated the day. He didn't realize why...why sit in a stuffy room when you could appreciate beauty out there? And I remember when we had meetings he would...often say, ‘Gee, can't we eat? Why don't we—I mean—isn't it time to eat? Can't we eat while we meet?’ 

And it wasn't because he was hungry. He just...it was a time to appreciate eating and it was a time to appreciate working. And even when he ate, I remember, he would always take dessert. He loved dessert. And he would...I just have this image of him...when you brought the tray over, I remember him saying, ‘What—what's that thingy—there?’ He was always wiggling his finger and saying, ‘What's that little dessert thing?’ I don't know why, but he couldn't order dessert without wiggling his finger. I'm not quite sure why that is but then he'd say, ‘I'll, I'll take that, that thingy there.’ And he would have it. And then he would eat it. And when he was eating it, you'd hear these little ’Mmm's’ from him, as he ate the dessert. ‘Mmmm. Mmmm.’

And it wasn't just that it tasted good, which it did. But it was the time at that moment to appreciate it. To appreciate where he was at that moment—eating that dessert. And I think life was just this dessert for him. I really don't believe that Jim could have been such an extraordinary creator if he hadn't been such an extraordinary appreciator..."

Appreciating is more than kind words, as the talented Mr. Oz related, truly appreciating is often non-verbal, and it is a look, a gesture, or a simple smile. Often times, these silent moments last longer than any gift of appreciation.  After the flowers wilt, and the beautiful nick-nack purchased becomes dusty, after the music fades and the dinner is over, after the monetary appreciation award is spent, the moment will remain.  The act will not be forgotten.  The simple act of appreciation not only encourages the discouraged, or uplifts the downtrodden; it is another way to love.   Sure, we say “Thank You” to people, as a force of habit, and not really think about it.  However, truly appreciating is so much deeper. 

Truly appreciating doesn’t cost anything.  It doesn’t take any more time to truly appreciate something.  And to appreciate a material thing, is to appreciate the creator of that thing.  So much beauty in the world is left to fade, when it goes un-appreciated. 

Why is appreciating so hard?  Sure, it is easy to appreciate certain things like desserts, or big acts of love, or talented individuals, but what about the little things?  What about those tiny little details that just seem to be part of life that we often times overlook?  Are the clothes you are wearing clean because you washed them, or someone else did?  What about all the work that was put into a simple thing like a can of soup.  The design of the label, the ease of heating it up, the taste, these are all things that are easily overlooked.  When you overlook these simple things, you overlook the Creator.  You overlook the people, or person that was responsible for creating it.  We live in a time when life is rushed, and the more time-saving devices we invent, the less time we have for each other as human beings.  The more hurried life is, the more we do, the less time we make for each other, the faster life seems to go. 

Take time to appreciate.  In fact, we are supposed to appreciate. We are commanded to through God’s Word. 

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

There is a time and a place for all things, but how often do we take an extra moment to appreciate the beauty in something. 

Smile. No, really, as your reading this, smile.  How long did it take you?  Answer – a few seconds more or less.   That’s all it takes sometimes.  A simple smile to acknowledge something someone has done, or to appreciate.  In his letter to Timothy, Paul urges us to do so and tells us the benefits of appreciation.

I Timothy 2:1-2

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Often times, on a nice day, I would find myself taking a moment and breathing deep as I look into the sky.  My wife would sometimes say, “What’s wrong?”  my response will be something like “Nothing.  Why?”

“Because you sighed.”

"Nothing, just breathing." (I am just enjoying.)

What I was doing was enjoying, or appreciating.  It seems in those fleeting quiet moments, that the world moved a bit slower, and I was able to feel refreshed, and happy, if only for a short time before the activity of daily life once again beckoned.

Appreciation is contagious.  Not only does it make you feel happy, it encourages those around you to feel happy as well.  Think about it, if you told a co-worker that you really appreciate your condensed soup, they may think you’re nuts, sure, but I can guarantee they will at the very least smile. Even if they don’t smile, then you have given them a memory that will last for a short time at least.

So, take time, slow down, and appreciate more in your life.  We don’t have time not to!

Point in fact…

I appreciate you, and what you do!