The time has come, the time is now. I don’t care what you do, or how, but it’s time to pull out a pen, a computer, a cell phone or an iPad and write a thank you note.
I don’t accept excuses. You have time to watch television, time to go to the ball game, time to send yet another text and time to update your Facebook page; you have time to send a thank you note.
Taking into consideration the time I worked to earn the money for the gift and the time to prepare the gift for you. I do not consider it too much to expect you to take the time to grab a piece of paper, write, “thank you for the gift of (fill in the blank). Thank you for thinking of me at this time.” Then write out my address (if you forgot it, it is in the phone book or you can find it online), pull out a stamp, prepare an envelope and send it to me.”
Yes, I do expect you, the busiest person in the world, to do this. It takes about five or ten minutes at the most to write a thank you note and send it. I know. I have written them myself.
I am not hard-nosed about the protocol. I will even take a digital acknowledgment. A quick note via email or even a text over the phone works for me, even if it is not the most correct way to respond in the protocol of manners. However the more I have invested of myself to meet your need, to acknowledge your circumstances or to celebrate your special event, the more I expect you to invest of yourself in saying “thank you.”
I say all this having just talked with folks who wonder why they do not receive many gifts anymore. I know exactly “why.” They never respond.
So I told them, “people like to know what is happening with you. They like to know that their gift was received in some way other than seeing the canceled check or having to follow its delivery on the Internet. When we do not receive any feedback, we assume you do not really want or need our gift. With that in mind, when finances get tight, your name will be one of the first to drop from the gift giving list.”
Many years ago, I had several people to whom I gave freely and often. I enjoyed giving and considered it important. However when we hit a financially rough patch, I realized I simply could not send anything, so I sent a letter explaining our difficult situation.
I received one letter back acknowledging my letter and empathizing with us. The rest never responded. I was hurt. Very deeply hurt.
This after having sent many gifts through the years. I accepted a form letter as acknowledgment that they received and used my gift. But surely, I thought, all of these folks would see that, in this case, we at least could use a note saying, “sorry to hear this. Thank you for all that you have done through the years.”
I was wrong. I received one response and I suddenly realized how Jesus must have felt when he healed 10 lepers and only one, an outcast Samaritan, turned back to say “thank you.” Jesus had given them a chance at a new life. He gave them hope, renewed their personal resources and only one took the time to say thank you.
Okay, the gifts I will give during the wedding and graduation season will come nowhere close to His kind of gift. However, the need to stop, take a few moments to say “thanks” still remains. It won’t take long, and your politeness will be remembered for a long time afterward.
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Note: Last week I mentioned that our grandson had heart surgery. Thank you for all who asked and prayed for him and the family. He is home again and, for the first time in his three and a half months, he is hungry and eager to eat. He even looks healthier in his pictures.