Sincere or Perfunctory Thank You!

Dear Diary,

#How_Much_Does_Thank_You_Cost?

Like I usually say, my diary has some wry and melancholy tales as well as very inspiring and life-changing tales. This is one of those life-changing experiences I had yesterday. So, I boarded a mat (Double M) from town and sat next to a jolly gentleman. Once I settled in my seat I made a call to someone and after conversing for a while I concluded with, “Thanks very much, Baraka.” The gentleman turned to me and said, “It’s long since I got a ‘thank you’. I am impressed!” I shelved that and we conversed for a while but couldn’t avoid thinking about it, today I still woke up thinking about the same convo… “Thank You!” That convo really brought me to a solemn consciousness. That gentleman hasn’t gotten a ‘thank you’ for a while, why? Is it that he hasn’t done anything to someone that warrants a thank you? When do we say thank you? Just how much does “Thank You” cost? Why are we stingy with its application? Is “Thank You” just a cliché? To be very honest, countless times I have forgotten to say thank you for small favors I have received from family and friends. Worse, there are times my “Thank You” has been superficial. Worst, there are lots of things I haven’t thanked God for, instead I have whined about what I don’t have.

When is the last time you generously said a genuine thank you to someone and/or to God? If you are deeply and authentically grateful to someone/God you express the emotion with the words “Thank You” but sometimes we’re perfunctory and tend to cheapen it by promising to reciprocate the favor we have received. One of the unfortunate characteristics of the last days is a lack of thanksgiving, 2 Tim 3:2. Ouch! When Jesus met the ten lepers on his way to Jerusalem, they all asked to be healed, Luke 17:11-19. As the lepers went to show themselves to the priests as commanded by Jesus, they were healed. However, only one returned to thank Him. “Were not all ten cleansed?” He asked. It is important to thank people for small and big favors, above all else God is worthy of our thanksgiving.

Certainly, we cannot adequately praise and worship God without also being thankful. The Bible has prominent and imperative calls to give thanks to God. Actually, we are to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His Courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” We give thanks to God for who He is; He is good and His love endures forever, Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 136:1; 1 Chr. 16:34. Thank God for salvation and opportunity to serve Him, 1 Tim 1:12–13.In fact it is God’s will to give thanks in all circumstances, 1 Thes 5:18. It should be a natural way of life for us, flowing from our hearts and mouths. We must thank God because everything we have is indeed a gift from Him, James 1:17. I believe thanksgiving unlocks many doors and brings showers of blessings.

Don’t be stingy with the application of “Thank You”

Faithful Scribbler,

NzakuNashipae