At a countywide meeting of all teachers before school started, the superintendent told about a teacher who had made a difference in his life. When he was offered a scholarship to study in a field that he knew he would not enjoy, she helped him find a scholarship in teaching.
He said, “I have never regretted that. The only thing I’ve regretted is that I didn’t go back to her years later and thank her.”
If you know this man, you know that even as a teenager, he thanked this teacher. She knew before he graduated that he appreciated her efforts. However, his regret lies in not letting her know at a later date that her assistance had brought him great satisfaction in his life’s work.
As we move into the annual Thanksgiving observance, this teacher's remarks should give us pause. If surveyed, I would imagine most of us could relate a similar tale about failing to thank fully someone who has touched our lives for the better.
Is it too late?
If that person is still alive and we know how to contact him, we, as part of our Thanksgiving celebration, should write a note or pick up the phone to let him know now. If he/she is no longer alive, perhaps we could let a family member know. All of us would probably appreciate learning of how our loved one had touched another life.
I once read a story where the author proposes thanking a person for a gift three times. Of course, the recipient responds with appreciation upon receipt of the gift.
However, the author also shows the recipient taking time to thank the giver again after she has put the gift to use. And, finally when the gift is completely worn out, she thanks the giver again. With these three acts of acknowledge, the recipient has given the giver an even greater gift, one of real appreciation.
However, such thoughtfulness should not be limited to gratitude. How often do we think of someone who is in great suffering from illness or loss of loved one. Most often, we’ll send a card or make a telephone call once. We’ve let them know we care.
But do we show any concern beyond our initial action? Whenever we encounter such a person, how often do we apologize, “I’ve been thinking about you, but you wouldn’t know it because I haven’t let you know?”
What about the person who has experienced some great success? Do we stop our own activities to congratulate him? Most of us are considerate enough to acknowledge his accomplishments when we encounter him. But do we walk the second mile to add praise?
Retirement from teaching has brought such a flood of responses from former students that it has certainly been an humbling experience for me. But such thoughtfulness, especially from young people concentrating on their own careers and families, has reminded me once again of the impact that thoughtful communication can make.
I like the word “thanksgiving.” It commands action. Although it may start with a feeling of gratitude, it doesn’t end there. We must do more than feel. We must act on that feeling. Of course the national holiday started out of the need of the earliest settlers to express appreciation for their survival in the new land. They sang praises and prayed to God. But, they took that worshipful sense of thankfulness a step further. They invited the Native Americans who had helped them survive to the feast.
While Thanksgiving should be a day of prayer and praise, it should also prompt action on our part. If we are truly grateful, we should show it in our actions to others. Giving true thanks involves more than writing thank you notes, but it is a starting place in sharing our many blessings with other.
2002
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