Two Little Words

I received two “thank you” messages yesterday. One was from a parent of a child in another class. She stopped by my room to thank me for my kindnesses toward her child during our daily car duty.  Another was an email thank you from a woman who had looked for years for the obituary of her g-g-grandmother and was relieved to finally see it on my Caddo blog. Both were all the more welcome because they were unexpected and unnecessary.

I was raised to be polite and to thank people for their help and service. I was even taught at home and in school that a grateful acknowledgement was expected when one received a gift. Not so anymore. I often send out gifts and money to family members and never know if they have even been received. I sometimes do favors for people and never hear from them. I witness children of all ages accepting gifts without even saying a verbal thank you, unless prompted by an adult. I guess we are living in a less formal society that doesn’t place as much value on manners.

I know that writing and regular mail are falling into disuse, but I hope that gratitude and the old-fashioned “thank you”, both written and verbal, are not neglected as well. I sure appreciated hearing those two little words yesterday!

Comments

[Megan]

I'm always so grateful to have my child remembered or to be personally remembered that it confusing me why people don't say anything these days. I don't mean to be thoughtless by any means and I don't think people intend on being rude, but it sure makes me wonder.

I am the first to admit that the little things in life seem to dissipate in an ever busy world, but I sure hope that gratitude isn't truly absent. Just not acknowledged.