A Simple Thank You

No doubt you have heard, or possibly used, the expression, “A simple thank you would do”.  I was brought up to remember my please and thank you, and found it strange in my first experience of cross cultural evangelism to find that, although there was a word for ‘please’, it wasn’t used when normally asking for something.  It seemed wrong, somehow.  Similarly, some cultures seem to make more of saying ‘thank you’ than others.  But I suspect the need to feel appreciated is universal.

I recently stepped down from a position in which I have served for possibly seventeen years. I was given several very nice expressions of thanks from the platform and a very nice large box of chocolates.  While this was very much appreciated, I did feel that an occasional thank you through the years of service might have been more encouraging.  Some of my activities use immediate feedback forms.  These have the potential for being encouraging, such as one received following a Safeguarding Course on which I had taught.  High scores and comments such as “the best event I have ever been on” left me amazed and personally thankful to God for privilege of serving in this way.  Another encouragement was a simple thank you card from someone at a church where I had taken a service for the first time.

In many churches, though not all, it is normal for the minister to stand at the door to say goodbye to members of the congregation.  Happily, the opportunity for further fellowship over coffee often saves me from the embarrassment that comes from those who either genuinely wish to express appreciation or who simply feel it the right thing to do.  My funniest experience of this came after I had led a service and spoken on the topic of humility.  I knew that God had used it but, afterwards, people didn’t know whether to say it was a good service!

Of course, it is good to hear something such as “The Lord spoke to me through your ministry today”.  I sometimes jokingly suggest it would be good to hear an occasional “Ouch” as well as a “Hallelujah”.  I read somewhere of a situation where a lady leaving church said to the minister, “I always get something from your sermons.  Each one is better than the next one!”  I’m sure she just got her words mixed up!

On most occasions when I have served in any way, a simple “Thanks” is more than enough.  I try to remember this when I have had a prayer answered – especially when it is not a major matter, and it would be all too easy not to say thank you. For example, at the end of a safe journey, or where there has been a provision of a perfect parking space.

I have wondered whether the man who fell among thieves got to say thank you to the Samaritan who saved his life (Luke 10).  Out of ten men who were cured of leprosy only one came back to give thanks to Jesus – and he was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16).  Naaman wanted to give effusive thanks for his healing, but learned that it was inappropriate for Elisha to accept payment for what God gave through grace (2Kings 5:1-18).

In the Hebrew Scriptures, almost half of the references to giving thanks appear in Psalms.  But a provision was made for thanksgiving as part of an offering at the Temple.  There are more references to thanks in the New Testament than in the Hebrew Scriptures.  Apart from those that refer to food in the gospels, the references are spread throughout the letters, and often linked with prayer.  This includes one of my favourite verses on prayer in Philippians 4:6. Here we are told not to be anxious but to pray with thanksgiving.

As someone who is conscious of his need for help in so many ways, I found myself reflecting on two school teachers who would come to my aid as they saw me running to school, having missed the only bus.  Ted Selman taught French and a lift from him meant riding in his luxurious Triumph Mayflower car.  Arthur Escort taught metalwork and rode to school on a 650cc motorbike. Whether cosseted in luxury of deep leather seats in a car that whispered its way, or perched on the back of the throaty motorcycle, I was thankful they did not pass me by,

Of course, their acts of kindness responding to my tardiness would now seem inappropriate today.  But who has shown you some kindness, prayed for you, encouraged you recently?  Have you expressed thanks to them?  Or maybe, there is someone on a spiritual journey that could do with a ‘lift’ for which they might be very grateful.  Above all, why not make a list of just the last five blessings that have come your way, and take a few moments to say thank you to God.

As Psalm 107 repeatedly exhorts us, ”Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever.”

Items for Praise & Prayer

Please give thanks to God for his gracious blessing on our ministry over the last few weeks.

Please give thanks for safe journeys, often in hazardous conditions.

Please give thanks for those who stand with us in prayer and have stood with us in practical ways.

Please pray as I have been struggling to work with a painful neck problem.

Saturday 17^th June – Pray for a mission support group meeting.

Sunday 18^th June – Please pray for ministry and for the Chaplaincy Team at HMP Gartree

Monday 19^th June – Please pray for heads of rural mission organisations meeting.

Tuesday 20^th June – Please pray for my regular ministry at HMP Gartree

Wednesday 21^st June - Please pray for a meeting of the Churches Rural Group

Thursday 22^nd June – Please pray for the preparation for Holiday at Home in Harborough

Friday 23^rd June – Please pray for the family of a dear friend and colleague, John Arnold,who died suddenly recently.  He was a past partner in rural mission, recently serving as a hospital chaplain.

Saturday 24^th June – Please pray for the webinar on prayer going out at 9.00 on the internet.

Sunday 25^th June – Please pray as I lead the meeting at Northampton in the morning and share in a civic service in Market Harborough in the afternoon.

I give thanks – for you and for your prayers.

Barry