Take a moment and imagine someone saying to you, "Thank You...I really appreciate what you did". Or imagine receiving an unexpected handwritten note from a friend that says "Thanks for our good conversation the other day. It meant a lot". We are instantly touched. Our inner glow is a little brighter. Our relationship with the sender is a little stronger.
My wife makes "to die for" pumpkin bars. Each year, she shares a tray of bars with our local bishop. Each year, she receives a handwritten note from the bishop thanking her for her generosity. This simple expression of "thanks" challenges me, for if a bishop's busy schedule can make time for a "thank you", so can my schedule.
Throughout the rhythm of our days we encounter the generosity of others, in small ways and large. So how about it? What if we were to buy a stack of cards, keep them next to our home computer or coffee pot, and start by sending one card a week, and then graduate to one card a day?
For those in positions of church leadership, consider sending thank you notes, or making personal "thank you" phone calls to those who made God's loving presence felt through their simple acts of generosity, care, and compassion. Make this discipline of thanks-giving an integral part of your ministry.
For those involved in the financial Stewardship of the church, consider the many opportunities to express thanks... when a stewardship pledge is made, or when someone increases their giving, or when someone makes a financial contribution for the first time. If you send financial statements to your members, take a close look at the statement to make sure that a spirit of "thank you" flows from the statement to the reader.
It's a simple expression. May we all strive to unleash the power of "Thank You" in our daily lives.
p.s. Thanks for taking the time to read this Generosity Gem!
