We are living in an unthankful generation. Perhaps this is no clearer evidenced than by the demise of the humble “Thank You Card”.
Years ago, thank-you notes were an art form. They were personal, timely, and genuine. In other words, there was a certain etiquette which had to be followed in sending thank you notes. Unfortunately, receiving a handwritten thank-you note seems to be increasingly rare.
After the personal hand-written note came the card companies like Hallmark. They printed a big “Thank You” on the front and let you fill out the inside. Later, as their customers demanded a less troublesome way to send their deepest heartfelt appreciation, they offered a prefilled inside that you could just sign. Like a generic “Thank you so much for whatever you did.” Yeah, that works.
Clyde Barrow, now there’s a guy who knew how to write a Thank You Card. With all his vices, the guy was still appreciative. Legend has it Henry Ford received a letter about a month before Bonnie and Clyde were killed in 1934. At the time, the notorious outlaws were attempting to outrun the police; in a V8-powered Ford.
Dear Sir:
While I still have got breath in my lungs I will tell you what a dandy car you make. I have drove Fords exclusively when I could get away with one. For sustained speed and freedom from trouble the Ford has got ever other car skinned and even if my business hasn’t been strictly legal it don’t hurt anything to tell you what a fine car you got in the V8.
Yours truly,
Clyde Champion Barrow
Today, we have found it is far more convenient to ping off an email, tap out a few words on a smartphone, or tweet a twitter. Modern folks just find an appropriate emoji. Sure, why not? You send me a million dollars, and I will send you a smiley face. I mean, like, what do you expect? I’m a busy guy.
But wait a minute. Since when did convenience have anything to do with politeness and consideration for others? Mom used to make me write thank you notes with no help from Hallmark. Was it a chore to write these letters? Of course it was! But it was especially important for a kid to learn to express gratitude for what he had been given. Perhaps, in a small way, if we could get back to the humble spirit of the Thank You Card, it might encourage the revival of courtesy, politeness, and respect, which many of today’s young people seem to have lost for their elders. Well…perhaps?
Likewise, there is a certain etiquette which must be followed when being grateful to God. There are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to giving thanks we can learn from the Thank You Card.
First, we usually don’t complain in a thank you note.
Can you imagine receiving a thank you note that complained about the gift? “Thank you for the $25.00 gift, but I was wondering why you didn’t send $50.00. We both know you could afford it. Why are you being so cheap? I was really disappointed with your lack of generosity.”
Yet, this is often the silent thoughts we have about God. We like to complain about what He doesn’t do. Just as God hears our prayers, He also hears our complaints. He knows when we are counting our blessings and when we are envious of the blessings of another. Every time we complain about our health, possessions, families, or our jobs, we are complaining about God’s provisions. How would we feel if we gave our children our very best, provided them with everything they needed, worked long hours to assure them of Christmas gifts, tasty food to eat, nice clothes to wear, and many things we never had, and then we found that they complained to their friends about how we fail to take care of them? We’d feel heartbroken. We’d feel that our best was not good enough, and we would not appreciate the unappreciative children who owed their very life to us. How then do you imagine God feels when He has given his only Son for our salvation and lavished us with everything we need?
People who are truly thankful don’t complain. They can always find a reason to be grateful. Matthew Henry, who wrote a great Bible commentary, was once robbed. The thieves took everything of value that he had. Later that evening he wrote in his diary these words, “I am thankful that during these years I have never been robbed before. Also, even though they took my money, they did not take my life. Although they took all I had, it was not much. Finally, I am grateful that it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” This man had every reason to complain, but he still maintained the character to be thankful.
Second, thank you notes are usually personal.
Can you imagine a thank you note addressed to dear occupant? In the best Thank You Cards, we usually indicate the person’s name and briefly describe the gift in our own personal handwriting and style: “Dear Robert, thank you for the wonderful box of chocolates you gave me.” We should do the same in our thanksgiving to the Lord.
Knowing my wife had slaved over a stove for hours to cook our Thanksgiving dinner, what if I stood up before the meal and said: “I am thankful that Food Lion sells turkeys, and for the cranberry growers, and for the craftsman that made this chair I am sitting in, and for the garbage men who will pick up these bones when I am finished.” Indeed, these things may play a role in my enjoyment, but what about the sacrifices and efforts of the cook?
Your note should begin by expressing your heartfelt thanks. You don’t need to be mushy with your language, but feel free to make your gratitude specific to the recipient and use emotion to convey your thanks. Doing this proves that rendering thanks is not just another task on your to-do list. Let’s make our thanksgiving personal to the Lord.
Third, your notes should
be specific.
A proper southern style thanksgiving requires us to be specific about the gift or service we’re grateful for. Otherwise, some lukewarm and general thanks can come off as disingenuous: “Thank for all the stuff you have done; whatever it was you did, and whenever it was you did it.” But, sometimes that is the way we thank our Lord. I have noticed sometimes at a baby shower or wedding, folks write a quick note on the back of each gift’s card to help the recipient remember what each person gave. That sounds smart.
Telling the giver how you plan to use the gift can make all the difference to the person you’re thanking. Instead of saying, “Thanks for the hammer,” try, “I’m planning on doing some projects around the house, and this new hammer will be perfect for driving my nails and crushing my thumb.” If someone has given you money, you can detail in your card what you’re saving for or how the cash will be a significant help in an area of need.
If you’re sending a thank you note for service rather than an item, you can be specific about how it helped you in your time of need. For example, “Seeing the flowers you sent for Grandpa’s funeral instantly lifted my mood and reminded me of your friendship.” After your specific thank you, you can sign off with your love and signature. We should do the same for our Lord. We should tell God how His blessings have benefited and enriched our lives.
Finally, thank you notes should be timely.
I think one of the most important things about saying thank you is doing it in a timely manner. Of course, a thank you at any time is better than none at all, but I find I’m more likely to give thanks if I do it quickly. No matter the size of the gift, a simple thank you sent within a few days of receiving the gift is always best. It lets the person know you took the time to sit down and acknowledge their kindness, and their efforts were not discounted, overlooked, or forgotten.
By nature, we are forgetful people, looking forward not back. Ask us what we want, and we can tell you. Ask us what we are thankful for, and we stare blankly into space. If we are carrying heavy burdens this holiday season, we cannot recall the joyous holidays we celebrated in the past. If money is tight, we whine. We cannot remember the past when the money was not a big issue. If miles separate our family this holiday season, we become depressed and forget all the years we were able to be together. Thankful people can remember God’s blessings like they can recall the smell of a turkey cooking in grandma’s oven. Thankful people don’t have to have everything going their way to rejoice. Thankful people can remember how God has provided, and they even see His comforting hand in their day of trouble.
Paul wrote his letter to the church at Philippi while he was in jail. He had been beaten, abandoned by his friends, lost contact with his churches, and it was during those horrendous circumstances that he penned this Epistle of Joy. He writes to “rejoice in the Lord” and to be “thankful.” Thankful people refuse to allow today’s troubles blind them to yesterday’s blessings. Thankful people realize that today’s troubles will be tomorrow’s miracles. Thanksgiving helps prevent the invasion of a disgruntled attitude, while it destroys the spirit of faultfinding and grumbling.
I know it is the lady of the house that usually writes the thank you notes for the family. However, when it comes to being thankful to our Lord, men, women, and children bear a responsibility. So, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and compose our “Thank You Notes” to the Lord, give Him thanks without complaint, make it personal, be specific, and timely. Remember the blessings of the Lord our God, who gave us His Son for our salvation and has provided for us life eternal and life abundant.
Additional Reference:
Luke 17:11-17
Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry over forty years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries.