Thank You Notes

Things go extinct. Dinosaurs, extinct. Woolly mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, the dodo bird, all extinct.

Realizing that animals can indeed go extinct, scientists keep a list of animals that are in danger of going extinct. They are trying to keep from having more animals go extinct, especially because of the invasive practices of humanity.

Other things in life are on the endangered list of going extinct. One of those is a hand-written thank-you note. We don’t do those much anymore. For those who still practice the courtesy of showing appreciation through a hand-written note, thank you for keeping this well-received gesture going.

My wife’s brother and sister-in-law have done something with their children that I have observed for all of our married life. When we are opening the family Christmas presents around the tree, they have taught their children (our niece and nephews) to keep a list of who gives them what gift so that they can write a thank you note to those who have given them Christmas gifts with a “thanks” for the specific gift.

When I first saw the practice, I thought it was a little strange. I had never seen anyone do that. No one in my family keeps a list and then sends a thank you note. So, I just assumed that no one did that practice.

But, every Christmas they would keep a list of the gifts and the giver, and following the festivities, we would receive a thank you note for the gift that we had given them.

Though I thought it odd at first, I grew to appreciate what they were instilling into their children. When someone blesses or acknowledges you with a gift, the proper response is a simple but sincere “thank you.” And, since most of those “thanks” get lost in the midst of boxes and gift wrapping at Christmas time, a hand-written note after the holidays is thoughtful.

As Paul instructs the church at Corinth to be generous so that others can experience the same work of God through Christ that they have experienced, Paul concludes 2 Corinthians 9 with these great words of encouragement:

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

His gift is amazing and life changing. His gift is redeeming and grace-filled. His gift is “indescribable”!

We should be careful to give thanks to God for the mighty work of Christ during this Christmas season. May we with one voice and one heart say “thank you” to the God who loves and gives. And, His gift is not trifling and small. His gift is huge and life changing. His gift is Jesus.

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God loved. God gave. As we receive, may we say “thank you.”

(Responses/Questions? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org.)