the art of appreciation

This is one of my favorite stories that I’d like to share with you…..

Larry and Jo Ann were an ordinary couple. They lived in an ordinary street. Like any other ordinary couple, they struggled to do the right things for their children. They were ordinary in yet another way – they had their squabbles.

Much of their conversation was concerned with what was wrong in their marriage and who was to blame, until one day, when a most extraordinary event took place.

“You know Jo; I’ve got a magic chest of drawers. Every time I open them, they’re full of socks and underwear” Larry said. “I want to thank you for them all these years”

Jo Ann started at her husband over the top of her glasses. “What do you want Larry? “Nothing” he said, “I just want you to know I appreciate those magic drawers.”

This wasn’t the first time Larry had done something odd, so Jo Ann pushed the incident out of her mind until a few days later.

“Jo Ann, thank you for recording so many correct numbers in the ledger for this month. You put down the right numbers 15 out of 16 times. That’s a record.” Disbelieving what she had heard, Jo Ann looked up from her book. “Larry you’re always complaining about my recording the wrong check numbers. Why stop now? ”No reason”  he said, “I just wanted you to know, I appreciate the effort you are making.”

Jo Ann shook her head and went back to her book. What’s gotten into him?” She thought to herself. She tried to disregard the incident, but Larry’s strange behaviour intensified.

“Jo I appreciate you going to work today and then managing to make dinner. That was a great dinner” he said one evening. “I appreciate all your effort. Why in the past 15 years I bet you’ve made over 14, 000 meals for me and the kids.”

Then, “Gee Jo, the house looks beautiful; you’ve really worked hard to get it looking great” and even “thanks Jo, for just being you. I really enjoy your company.”Jo Ann was growing worried. “Where’s the sarcasm? Where’s’ the criticism? When’s that coming?” she thought to herself.

Her fears that something peculiar was happening to her husband when her daughter aged 16 complained, “Dad’s gone bonkers, mum. He just told me I looked nice. With all this makeup and these clothes, he still said it. That’s not dad, mum. What’s wrong with him?”

Whatever was wrong, Larry didn’t get over it. Day in and day out, he continued focusing on the positive and appreciating. Over the weeks, Jo Ann grew more accustomed to her mates’ unusual behaviour and occasionally even gave him a grudging “Thank you”. She prided herself on taking it all in her stride, until one day, something peculiar happened, she became completely discombobulated.

“I want you to take a break” Larry said. “I am going to do the dishes, so please take your hands off that frying pan and leave the kitchen.”(Long, long pause)…”Thank you Larry. Thank you very much.”

Jo Ann’s step was now a little lighter, her self-confidence higher and once in a while she hummed. She didn’t seem to have as many blue moods anymore. “I rather like Larry’s new behaviour” She thought.

That would be the end of the story, except one day another most extraordinary even took place. This time it was Jo Ann who spoke.

“Larry, she said, “I want to thank you for going out to work for us all these years. I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I appreciate it.”

Larry never revealed the reason for his dramatic change of behaviour, no matter how hard Jo Ann pressed him and so it will likely remain one of life’s’ mystery’s.

It’s one I’m thankful to live with. You see I am Jo Ann.