Does anyone remember Emily Post? Way back (!!!) in the 20th century, she was famous for writing books on etiquette. Mention that word today and the response would probably be, “On what???” It comes from the French word which meant “a list of ceremonial observances of a court”, but in English it came to mean “the customary code of polite behavior in society.”
The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that the word “thank” actually came from the term “think” around 450 AD. Prior to that people expressed their gratitude by saying they thought of someone “kindly”. Eventually, it went from “I thank you” to simply “Thank you”.
When my boys were growing up, they dreaded the day after their birthdays when I would sit them down at the island and require them to write a “Thank you” note. You’d have thought I had asked for a pint of blood. I would explain that the giver was not required to give them anything so they needed to express appreciation. My mom had pounded this into my head; I was passing on the lesson.
In today’s world people are constantly ordering things online so that there is an incessant stream of packages arriving on their doorstep. It’s not like years ago when something came in the mail and everyone gathered around to see what tidbit had been sent. Nowadays communication is always at one’s fingertips so why mess with snail mail? (Emily must be rolling over in her grave). Yet, based on everyone being virtually stuck like glue to their phones, is it too much to ask the recipient of a gift to at least TEXT an acknowledge of its arrival? How ungrateful are we?
And, while we’re on the subject: how often do we stop and thank God for His many blessings? Each day He gives us another breath, another sunrise, another view of the stars, flowers blooming, birds singing…
It’s Thanksgiving this week, but shouldn’t we be thankful all year? To the givers and to the Ultimate Giver?
“In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving, Teri!
I look forward to reading your words of wisdom each Tuesday! Thank you!
Thankful for the reminder! Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so thankful for your friendship through thick and thin and your wise words of encouragment. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
We assume that not expressing gratitude is ingratitude. Not always true. The problem is that no one knows you’re grateful unless you show it. We can’t read people’s hearts. With God we can say “thank you” in words or in the way we live our lives. And He is the only one who knows our hearts. May our hearts be grateful in words and deeds. (Emojis don’t count!)