“What do you say?” was the question I heard, followed by an emphatic “thank-you!” You can imagine the scene as an excited toddler was passed an ice-cream. I am sure most parents have uttered this phrase to their children to elicit either the ‘please’ or the ‘thank you’ that bracket the act of receiving of something desired.
This event made me prick up my ears to listen to people as the interacted with shop assistants, cleaners, serving staff and with other members of the community as I went about this week. Although the word ‘please’ was not always present, thank-you or a variant of it: ta, cheers, thanks, etc. concluded most interactions. I was surprised and pleased to note that this was generally true of all ages. It is not universally recognised of our children and young adults, that despite what the media may portray the vast majority of them (and of people as a whole) are polite and thankful.
Saying thank-you is a key element in showing both respect and confirming worth on people who do things for us. As I paid particular attention to the way people responded to each other I saw two circumstances when people didn’t thank others.
The first is even mentioned in the bible. According to Luke's gospel account, when Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus encountered ten lepers. He healed them, but only one returned to thank Jesus afterward. I imagine that all ten were grateful for their healing, all ten were glad that Jesus had met them but nine of the ten were so caught up in the excitement of being made well they omitted to say thank-you. They were like the toddler with the ice-cream. Who knows, perhaps the tenth leper had his mum with him prompting him with those familiar words “What do you say?”…
The second was where there was familiarity. The receiver of the service was so used to it they no-longer said thank-you. The guilty party was me; yet another coffee had appeared on my desk and I had not even acknowledged the maker. The first scenario is understandable we all get caught up in the moment especially when we are a toddler facing a huge ice-cream; the second is something I think we all should try and avoid. I am therefore making a double effort to be thankful this month. To thank people who do things for me. To be thankful to God for the blessings in my life, even the small ones like waking up each morning, or food on my plate and especially for cups of coffee on my desk.
Traditionally communities would come together to give thanks at this time of year. To give thanks for the harvest. This September the churches in the area will join together for such a thanks-giving service on Cherry Fields. While harvest time may not seem as relevant in the days of internet shopping it is a good reminder to give thanks, you might want to join us and say ‘thanks’ too. Even if this is not your ‘cup of tea’ ‘ I give thanks to God for all the people in the village.
I guess I should also say thank-you for reading this.