Say Thank You

"Say thank you."

Undoubtedly we heard this a gazillion times as kids, to which we developed a reflexive response that is partially shy and mostly obligatory. And then, for some reason, we grow up, and we forget to say thank you.

Of course, we say genuinely thank you to those who bestow material gifts upon us on holidays, or who go out of their way to perform acts of kindness, such as running after us out of a restaurant with a forgotten item, or who compliment us. However, I would suggest this isn't enough. For how little effort it takes you to do so, saying thank you with a smile and with eye contact can mean a lot to the individual thanked. 

Say thank you to your waiters and waitresses. They've had a long day and are dealing with bad tippers, obnoxious customers, and having to smell the same food for hours and hours. 

Say thank you to your cashiers, especially those who undoubtedly slam their fingers on your canned goods trying to get you through the line as fast as they know you'd like. 

Say thank you to those who hold doors for you, especially those who stand in the cold for a few minutes waiting for you to run past. 

Say thank you to your servicemen and women. They deserve it.

Say thank you to your hosts and hostesses. Their hours before your arrival were spent with your comfort, not their's, in mind. 

Say thank you to your parents. They spent a good part of their life insuring you would be a strong, mature, self-sustaining individual. 

Say thank you to your grandparents. They spent a good part of their life insuring your parents would be the strong, mature, self-sustaining individuals they turned out to be, and undoubtedly they spend a lot of love on you.

Say thank you to your sibling(s).  They help shape us into who we are, and they know you better than anyone else on the face of the planet.

Say thank you to your teachers. Especially if you have them at 8AM. They do more then stand behind a desk and give you bad grades and put you to sleep. They invest more time into you then for what they are paid.

Say thank you to your nurses. They care, they're exhausted, and yet they'll put you before themselves 24/7. 

Say thank you to your doctors. They've suffered through a lot of school, a lot of dirty, nasty cases, and are putting up with you, everyone who is anti-the-medical system, and everyone who thinks they know better because WebMD.

Say thank you to those who allow you to borrow their time and possessions. 

Say thank you to your babysitters. They have to figure out your child and your child's schedule and set of rules and where all the dishes in your house go and how to turn on your shower and what you expect of them. 

Say thank you to janitors. When you're passing them, you're undoubtedly walking over the floor they just mopped, and they are otherwise invisible to those around them. 

Say thank you to those who interview you for jobs, even if they don't give you the job. It's a lot of work sifting through applications and choosing. 

Say thank you to your ministers. They pray for you. They work hard every day of the week writing sermons, counseling you and your fellow church members, and evangelizing. They carry the weight of the congregation and its welfare on their shoulders. 

Say thank you to the Lord. He not only blesses you with everything you own, know, and are capable of, but He sustains you with every breath you take.

Write a note. Bake something. Exchange the favor, whether the same way or in a different way. Offer positive feedback. Let them know you're up for helping them any time. Or at the very, very least, please, say thank you and like you mean it. It barely takes anything for you, but it can change another person's day around completely for the better, and that is exemplifying the light of Christ.