I'm Just Sayin by Alan P. Scaglione

“A treasured gift-My Indianapolis Colts Handmade Afghan!”

                                          “I’m Just Sayin’”

                                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione

So…I am about to be controversial again! I wanted to prepare you—not like my views on Halloween or being pro-life or my
political association as a republican; not even the fact that I love the Colts and believe in a pre-tribulation rapture.

Nah….this is even more controversial than all of those.
This is… “Thank You” cards!

Yep—that’s right— I am the 1%! The 1% who believes in sending them AND expects to receive them.
We live in a day and age when people just don’t send “thank you” anymore.
And let me be clear—a text message is NOT a thank you card!!

Our kids live in a world where life has to be summed up in 250 characters or less, and... they think they are communicating!!
I have three children—one of which is my “master texter”!!
She will text back and forth for 30 minutes and yet—not pick up your phone call when you call her!
She will tell you that she doesn’t like to talk on the phone; I tell her that my thumbs are getting arthritis from texting her so much!

Then there’s that son of mine. I will text him, and…he doesn’t respond.
 On the rare occasions that he does, I know that there must be some “text rationing” going on—only so many given to one person in one day!
I know this because…I can’t get more than two responses from him at any one time. No matter what the question, once the rationing has been
fulfilled, my question just hangs out in the stratosphere—never ever addressed, acknowledged or accepted. It goes to “text purgatory!”
But…I raised them to be verbally appreciative, recognizing the graciousness of a gift by responding with a ”Thank You” card!

Guess what you’re taught is NOT always what you apply to your life?

I hear from people everywhere that…thank you cards are just not sent anymore—not enough time in the day to sit down and write in a card.
Makes me wonder if—they put down their PS2, Kindle or smartphone—would they have time to address a simple “thanks for the gift” card?
It’s just the “air of entitlement”; acknowledging the giving of a gift seems to be too complicated or too time consuming or…too much of a bother?

Hmmm? I have yet to see any of them decline a gift, turn it back to the giver or ask not to receive it—that doesn’t seem to take too much time!!
Just an acknowledgment of the gift; an appreciation to the gift giver—is that too much to ask for?

And you know…I think acknowledging the gesture of gift giving is biblical.
I have been reminded all week of the Ten Lepers. In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus healed them all, and they all went on their way.
But one returned and said, “I just want to thank you, Lord!”
Jesus asked, “Weren’t there ten that I healed? Where are the other nine?”

Sounds to me like He expected they would all return to say thank you!

Just because no one expects it anymore does not mean that we shouldn’t do it—or that we aren’t required to do it!

I received some really nice, thoughtful, personal birthday gifts last weekend.
By Tuesday, my Thank You cards were in the mail.
Some received their cards today. I got a call that said, “that is so thoughtful—no one takes the time to say thank you anymore!”
I also got a text “thank you for my card—you made my day today!”

Cards cost a dollar at Wal-Mart and stamps are 48 cents—aren’t “they” worth “that” to you?

So…I have to believe that…even though we “say” it’s okay, we don’t expect our kids, our “grandkids”, our family, our friends--to send a card…
We are all pleasantly surprised when we get the acknowledgment that our thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated.

And if Jesus can expect someone to return and say thank you…
I think we can too!   

Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”