editors note: woman on a rant, about to appear here -
how has it happened? when did it happen? didn't our parents teach us to say "thank you?", to bring an apple to the teacher? when did it leave? how did entitlement swallow courtesy? i find it painful, hurtful, when you throw your heart and soul into something and it is left like a dissonant chord hanging there, waiting for someone to come along and say "thank you for making my world a little more beautiful, even for five minutes"
am i selfish? that we should do things without thanks is a given. of course, i know this.
i don't get, nor do i expect, a standing ovation for sweeping, doing grocery shopping, changing that poopy diaper and cleaning the outfit that it spoiled. i don't expect it. but when it is out of the way...extra, you know heart and soul poured into it kind of stuff, don't you think there should be a little moment, an exchange that says "your sacrifice was worth the effort".
just so this doesn't feel like a guilt trip, i am not meaning the people i counsel or mentor - i feel their gratitude in the way they live their lives. i have a special grace to not need any special awards for that.
it is just the ins and outs. the things we do that take a special effort, and it is met with an attitude of indifference and familiarity rules with the expectation, "well, that is just what you do". it makes me want to say "well, what if i didn't?"
did Jesus feel this way when He healed 10 people and only one came back to say "thank you"? where are the other nine? well, they were probably thinking "well, Jesus, you are the messiah, that is just what you do." but He wanted thanks. and we ought to give it to Him.
i am not in a messianic delusion here, i know He deserves the praise and my little offerings are ridiculous in comparison, but i am grieved by the lack of gratitude in our hearts as a culture.
it reminds me of a time when i was in the bulk section of the grocery store and i walked by a lady who was outraged that the store had run out of prunes - on and on she went, and i of course, was thinking "yes, you need them" - but there she was tearing a strip off of this poor fellow who was simply trying to re-stock the peanuts. once she was gone, i told the guy that people should travel to other countries and see what it feels like to be in line all morning for a loaf of dry bread only to reach the front of the line to realize it was gone for the day. no bread for their family that day. too bad. yes, that happens. and we, so full, so satiated have the nerve to be angry over prunes being out of stock.
anyway, tonight i will search my heart on my bed and repent for the areas of my heart where i am ungrateful, because God knows i am sometimes. and tomorrow i will continue my campaign to all within the sound of my voice to acknowledge others efforts, great or small with a simple "thank you" - that costs me nothing, but could mean the world to them.
rant over. thanks for listening.
My Dearest Keri,
ReplyDeleteThank you. Thank you for being a woman of integrity and of conviction. Thank you for being a daughter that I so love to brag on to any and all that will listen. Thank you for being a good friend to so many that have no idea the value of that simple act. Thank you for being the wife you are and the mother you are becoming. Thank you for allowing The Lord to use you without your permission.
I know why it is so easy to throw angry words about so and so hard to say thank you to those who make our lives so much better. The spirit that The Lord has put in us will rise above the negativity of this world of hopelessness. Simply put it is the lack of hope that makes "no prunes" a big deal to so many. You have that hope in you and you share it so well. Never give in and never give up, This world needs the Hope of the world and the only way they are going to see it is through you and me, all the you's and me's out there that have that hope. You are a good egg, Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you.
DAD