(November 27, 2023) Maureen McQuillan shares…

Robert needs to ‘raise’ his study cabinet – a small unit in a corner behind the door that gives him additional work space beyond his desk. But… it’s not tall enough and stooping over it to work on for any length of time causes his back to ache.

So when I say raise it, I mean make it higher. Thinking that he could make a frame himself that he can put under the cabinet and give the unit some extra height, my husband bought some wood.

As he was about to search for some carpentry tools last night Robert heard neighbour Matt using an electric saw in his garage and thought, ‘I know what… I’ll rush next door and ask Matt to kindly saw this wood into the lengths I need and that’ll save me time… and fiddling around.’

And he did… with no hassles and came back a happy chappy. But… later last night he was thinking ‘Umm. Did I thank Matt? I can’t remember. Duh!’

I keep telling Robert that he’s a worry!

Thoughtfulness
The reality is that we should always say thank you to whoever does something for us… supermarket staff, petrol station cashiers, doctor, practice nurse, op shop assistants, waitresses, waiters. Everyone!

Quite often we sense the individual being surprised, especially when we go further and ask how they are and begin a short chat that can lead to wishing them a great weekend… or sharing about the Lord, or even giving them a prophetic word.

In respect of our expressing thanks, we came to realise that many people don’t say thank you… more than thoughtlessness so often it’s a missing characteristic, even with some Christians!

And with supermarket assistants, whom I request to not fill my shopping bags so full that they’re too heavy for little me, when I thank them they usually respond saying, ‘Oh it’s my job to be helpful.’ To which I quickly say, ‘Yes, I know that, but I want you to know that I really appreciate your service!’

Often they will hesitate packing for a moment and softly thank me in turn. Other times, the look on their face tells that they’re nor used to someone thanking them.

One time, when purchasing a cooking ingredient in a specialised shop, I asked the owner for a spare larger bag, truthfully mentioning that I needed it to hold a gift purchased at another store. Without hesitation the assistant obligingly responded, not giving me any old bag, but by finding one that fitted that gift perfectly.

My comment was one of gratitude and ‘You are very thoughtful and kind’ adding, without a hint of preaching, ‘Those are virtues – qualities – that are missing in the world today’ and also ‘We know that the old saying, “What goes around comes around”, will mean that your action will return to bless you.’ The lady just beamed, nodded and agreed wholeheartedly.

Unexpected flowback
Last week I found the perfect Christmas/birthday gift for our daughter Wendy (I say Christmas/birthday as she was born on Christmas Day). It was in a specialised shop that we often call into, not always to buy anything but simply to ask the owner whom we’ve come to know how she is and so on.

This time we made a purchase, thanking her as she processed the sale. Then to our surprise, instead of giving us just a carrying bag, she spent some time not only ‘Christmas  wrapping’ the item with quality paper but adding  a beautiful ribbon and artfully creating the prettiest decoration to the knot… all at no extra cost! On thanking her for this, she simply smiled.

The shop being quiet, Robert took the opportunity to pray for her and the business. She had made us happy and we in turned blessed her… and she thanked us for the prayer.

Saying thank you goes a long way. Again and again we find opportunities to not only thank assistants but quietly bless certain ones with a prayer, even give a prophetic word. Never indiscreetly of course, never embarrassing them. It’s when we sense the leading of the Holy Spirit and go as He leads. Never once has our caring been refused or queried nor have we been asked to clear off, not even by non-Christians!

Thanking God!
But oh it’s sad to observe this thank you virtue generally missing today.

Hopefully we thank God for all His goodness to us! Have you ever considered the depths of God’s John 3:16 action in ‘giving’ His Son Jesus so that we can have so much joy through being redeemed?

Let’s ever thank Him with praise, honour and glory as Revelation 7:12Mge says – ‘The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, the honour and power and strength, to our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes!’ 

Incidentally… ‘thanksgiving’ is eucharistia… gratitude; actually grateful language (to God, as an act of worship). May we always remember that – not just at Holy Communion times!

Following God’s example
Our God is incredibly generous and we can be like him in bringing joy to others… even with this simple virtue of saying thank you. Or do we miss out on being generous with compliments?

Jesus’ instruction of Luke 6:38 – ‘Give and it will be given onto you…’ – has deep meaning when fully understood and exercised in the right spirit! For example, among other things ‘give’ signifies ministering with power and commitment. The Message Bible exhorts, ‘Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.’

 May we all exercise the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)… and also the godly characteristics that our Lord  regularly displayed.

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Pastor Maureen and Dr Robert McQuillan’s links: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook 
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