Note: Thank You

Note:  Thank You

My brother was in Georgia, recently, to attend a dinner with the rest of our family.  In order to break up his twelve-hour drive back home to Texas, he stopped at our son’s home in Mississippi to spend the night.  Before leaving here, he ran up to one of the dollar stores to pick up small gifts for our son’s four children.  John spent a good bit of time at the store, carefully selecting just the right gift for each child.  The next night, when I called to check in with everyone there, each grandbaby had to excitedly tell me what their Uncle John had brought them. 

Though they were inexpensive dollar items, one would have thought that John had given them priceless treasure.  They, in turn, had gone to him with an attitude of gratitude for his thoughtfulness.  Each had hugged and kissed him, thanking him repeatedly for their gifts.  There is no doubt in my mind that my brother will make another stop at one of those dollar stores before his next trip through Mississippi.  Gratitude begets giving; giving should beget gratitude.  I am thankful that our sons and their wives have taught their children to express their delight at what they are given.

Personally, I am a stickler for thank you notes:  Not e-mails, not a text message, not even a message relayed by a family member.  I don’t give in order to be thanked; however, I note when I am not.  I don’t like printed notes of thanks, and I don’t subscribe to so-called etiquette that allows a bride a year of adjustment to pen her thanks.  I am not asking for long, flowery notes of embellishment avowing my generosity, taste, and intimate knowledge of need.  In addition, I am not above asking if someone received the gift I sent, knowing full well they did because I received a notice of delivery.  I don’t have a long list of no note people, though I may have made a mental note of those who never say thank you somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind.

Have you ever spent time, energy, and money as you selected just the right gift for someone, only to have them toss it aside, ask for the receipt to take it back, or to act as though they had expected the gift and had a right to it?  As a woman, have you ever labored over a meal, only to have your family tell you they ate elsewhere, don’t like what you fixed, or will just grab a bite at a fast-food franchise?  Husbands love to be appreciated for their labor and their sacrifice.  Wives need to be valued for their sacrifice.  Children wait to be noticed when they have done well in school or help out with extra chores.  Employees expect raises, bonuses, or, at the very least, verbal affirmation. 

King David was so overwhelmed by the goodness of God that he asked a fascinating question in Psalm 116:12 – How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?  Psalm 100:4 answers that question:  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

God’s blessings surround us daily, even in the most difficult of times.  So often, we take God’s goodness for granted.  He gives us the air that we breathe, the song in our heart, hope in the midst of our tears, the promise of His presence in the darkest of nights, and, above all, the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  For those who know Him, Thanksgiving Day is everyday!

© 2010 Gerry Sisk

(11/17/10)