The choice of the second word was deliberate. Not a casual comment of “Hey, you,” to that unknown character chewing gum and walking away without a backward glance. This is a request to a person of noble statue who has been taught two magic words, please and thank you. The behest is made to each of us and how the duo is received and offered tinges our whole day. The national thanksgiving of this week is for gifts of intangibles like survival and friendship and for tangibles like food and shelter.
To deepen my feeling of how “thank you” colors a situation, I went back and looked at two examples. One is a thank you I never gave. I asked a couple to stand in a situation where I really needed help. The moment (well it was more than a moment) passed, and I got caught up in something else, and then I really felt awkward coming back to the incident, and then I lost the contact. In this lifetime, they may have moved on, and I am left standing in a well-deserved mud hole. On the other hand, I have offered an action that required, if not sacrifice, but commitment on my part only to never receive a response. In one case, I stewed and fumed and almost prompted, “Was my offering helpful?” each time we met. I still wonder if what I did was worthwhile. The shoe was on the other foot.
So, this became more personal than I planned and more scattered than a national syndicate will want to pick up and publish. Yet, I looked at the faces your e-mails represent and wanted to say “thank you” for letting me invade your space. I wandered aimlessly in Kroger at 9:00 this morning and one of the stockers said, “Can I help you find something? Let me show you.” No way could I dash on without a smile and “Thank you,” before he turned away. The coming up weeks will be filled with giving and taking, both because it is someone’s job or just someone’s place in life for now. As days unfold, note how footsteps are made easier for you or you can ease the way for others. Note times someone steps up to help and when you are called to do the same. James reminds us that all gifts have an ultimate source. We still have to ask with “Please” and receive with “Thank you.”
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
James 1:17
Let Me Tell Ya 