Appreciation
And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. Esther 6:2 KJV
This has been a very special week for me. Twice I was able to relay my admiration for the footprints that had been left on the pathway of my life. The first was to a dear friend who helped me through a very tough part of my life. The second was to an old boss, who, quite honestly, I struggled with when he oversaw things. He just pops his head in every once in a while, now. Appreciation is a funny thing, you don’t see it while it is happening, but when you see its results you know who is responsible.
The presidency is one of those jobs everybody wants, but once you get into the day to day routine, you’re glad when it’s your turn to leave. Countless presidents have shaken the hands of their successor and basically said, “Here are the keys. I’m out of here and I’ve never been happier.” Although, most try to run for reelection, very few really love being president. Most want to leave a “legacy” so everyone will remember them in a good light. None want to be remembered as the worst president. But the burden lifted the day they walk out the door is usually accompanied by the biggest smile of their life.
There aren’t many Bible characters that are known for their smiles, either. I think that is rather unfortunate. God has given us so much to smile about. You don’t see Adam and Eve smiling about all the beauty they were given. No, they wanted a stupid apple. You don’t see the Israelites smiling about their freedom from the Egyptians. No, they complain about their sore feet from all the traveling they had to do. You don’t see James and John smiling because they are in the presence of Jesus. No, they want to argue about who is going to sit on which side of Jesus when they get to heaven. No, there aren’t many smiles in the Bible.
Last week I started thinking about my dear friend who helped me through a very tough time. Sometimes I think some things are just second nature to some people and they may not even realize their effects. It might not be a big deal for them, but they are to you. It’s easy to forget or get too busy to remember the help, but for some reason I just thought about her. I sat down and wrote her a note.
William Blythe III was his name. He never really knew his father. His father died in a car accident three months before he was born. His father was a traveling salesman. His mother left him with her parents as she travelled to New Orleans to study nursing shortly after his birth. When his mother returned she married a man who owned an automobile dealership with his brother and they started “their family.” William remembers his step-father as abusive to his mother and as a gambler and an alcoholic. You might say his early years weren’t much to smile about.
Haman was one of those men you might say, who had a taste for getting his way and those who didn’t follow him were like that bitter herb that stays in your mouth much too long. He wasn’t happy until that taste was completely gone. He was also a very good politician and knew how to work the system. He was promoted to the position just under King Ahasuerus. He was a proud man indeed, but still, he was somewhat threatened by the Jews.
King Ahasuerus got angry with his wife and was talked into divorcing her. He got lonely and the search was on to find him a new wife. Into the story steps the beautiful Esther. But Esther was a Jew, which Haman had a problem with, and the plot thickens. Mordecai was Esther’s uncle and advisor. Mordecai, also a Jew, served the King faithfully. Mordecai once saved the king’s life by warning two guards of two assassins who had come to kill the king. Guards were placed in front of the door and that plot was foiled.
William loved music. In fact, he even thought about majoring in music at college. He loved the chorus and playing the saxophone. Music probably took his mind off the rough childhood he was experiencing. But he was also a good debater. He was chosen as part of the American Legion’s Boys Nation. This group consist of two juniors (in high school) from each of the groups state groups. They went to Washington DC and here he met the President of the United States and it forever changed his life. Growing up on the poor side of town he was also inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr. and he even memorized his “I Had a Dream” speech.
My next encounter came this week when I had a moment to chat with my former boss. I turned to him and said, “I never thought I would ever say this, but, I really miss you.” Despite the struggles I had when he was here, I now see how well he guided this company. In an age where leadership is really lacking, he was not afraid to lead and our company was much better for it. He may have grabbed our hands and squeezed hard, but you at least knew where you were headed. Those were probably some of the best years our company has ever experienced.
Haman tricked the king into letting people kill the Jews and even had a hangman’s noose prepared for Mordecai. King Ahasuerus was having trouble sleeping one night, so he asked that some of those old, boring history books be brought in and read to him so he could fall asleep. The pages opened to the story of how Mordecai had basically saved his life. “Did we ever thank him?” asked the king. “No, he has never been thanked,” came the reply. “Then, thank him we shall!” said the king. The plot of Haman also was exposed. Guess whose head got stuck in the hangman’s noose: poor Haman.
When William Jefferson Blythe III was fifteen he finally accepted his step-father’s last name. He would now always be remembered as Bill Clinton. Like him or not, he always remembered where he was from and tried to always look out for the people who got him where he was. He is also my best example of someone who really loved being President and missed it when he left. And you guessed it, he is almost always smiling.
Prayer: Father, There are so many things to smile about. But life often gets us down. Thank you for the chance this week to tell a couple of people how much I really appreciate them. Thank you that they used those opportunities, they had, to earn my appreciation instead of just walking away. Amen.
