Can You Express Thanks?

Not long ago at a store I held open the door for a woman with a child in one arm and a box in the other.  She hurried right through the doorway, saying not a word.  My first thought was, at least you could have said thank you.

Saying thank you was built into my vocabulary by my parents.  Now it seems to be out of date to many people.  Human beings seem to take others for granted.  We expect other people to do good things for us.

Somehow society has developed the disposition that others owe us something.  That others ought to automatically serve us.  We see it everywhere, on the job, in school and at stores.

This attitude has permeated many families and marriages.  We expect parents and mates to perform positively on our behalf.  No need to say thanks.  They are doing what is expected of them and they should know we appreciate it.

Basically this is a selfish approach.  Me first.

It isn’t any more difficult to say than it is to say what’s up or any other two words.  So it’s not a matter of language difficulty.

It’s a matter of will, attitude and determination.  I will not say thank you or I will say thank you.  We need to ask ourselves which we will do.

But someone will say why do I have to say thank you for everyday acts?  I think a better question would be, why not?

Living thankfully and expressing it, tells a lot about us as an individual.

In marriage, expressed thankfulness tells our mate they are appreciated, that the things they do makes us happy, that they have talent, that they can do or does it better and quicker than we can.

Expressed thankfulness is like a sweetener; in friendships, on the job, in our everyday activities.

It does something to the recipient; something positive.  Our expressed thankfulness activates the adrenalin of our mates, friends and co-workers.  Thankfulness is a stimulant, a short in the arm, an inspiration.

We, of course, should not express thankfulness to gain something from others.  But if something is gained, just be more thankful and mean it.  We express thankfulness because we are truly appreciative.  We are unselfish.

By the way, when was the last time we gave thanks to God for every breath of air He gives us to breathe?  Do we thank Him for our calling?  Read I Thessalonians 5:18.

As well, with our national day of Thanksgiving soon arriving it is worthwhile that we give God thanks for allowing us to live in this land that He has so greatly blessed.

Thank you!  Pass it on.