thank you

It's very easy in the maelstrom of 'catching up', when I'm trying to hit the ground running, to forget to say 'thank you' to those who've been filling in for me while I've been away.

A neighbouring minister covers for me in terms of any major pastoral work which requires to be attended to. That's on top of everything else that the guy is doing day by day. I'm grateful for his willingness to 'stand in the breach' and field these additional tasks.

And then, as well, I have a number of visiting preachers conducting our worship when I'm not there. It's not just the Sunday, of course, that's involved for them, but long hours of preparation too. I'm grateful for that, and glad to be able to leave our Sunday worship in their hands.

They know that, I'm sure (the fact that I'm grateful). But it helps to be said, and, indeed, to be put in writing. So today I made sure that before any more time has elapsed I dropped them a note to convey a sense of my thanks.

I recall a long, long time ago visiting an elderly couple in their home in Cumbernauld. They had their daughter staying with them, along with their son-in-law. They were glad to be able to help like that.

And with the two young folk being out at work all day, the lady of the house would make their evening meal each day and have it ready for the two of them when both returned from work.

She was glad to do so, but I remember her, in a slightly unguarded moment, remarking that it would be nice if at least on occasion her daughter and son-in-law simply said 'thank you'.

I don't mind doing it at all, she said. In fact I really enjoy it, it's something I'm good at and I'm glad to be able to help. But it would be nice, it would make it all seem so much more worthwhile, if at least from time to time they actually thanked me for it.

Not once in all the months and years she'd been doing this for them had a word of thanks been uttered. And not, I'm sure, because they weren't profoundly thankful. It was just that they hadn't got round to saying it.

There was a book we used to read to our children which had as its climactic punch line - "... but he never once said thank you!"

It's a line we need to learn. Our culture is not all that good when it comes to giving thanks.

The Scriptures, by contrast, are full of the theme.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Whatever you do .. do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

.. Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.

Always.

Jesus once healed ten lepers who went off to the priest and found as they went that they were cleansed. Only one came back, throwing himself at the feet of Jesus and giving him thanks. And he, adds Luke rather pointedly, was a Samaritan.

Where are the other nine? asked Jesus.

Good question.

They were thrilled to bits. I don't doubt that. They were profoundly thankful. I don't doubt that.

But where were they when it came to giving thanks where thanks was due? They were nowhere to be seen.

Ours has become a culture of complaint. Finding fault has taken the place of giving thanks. We take too much for granted.

That simple phrase, "Thank you", can mean so much. To the Lord as much as to anyone else.