Cheerful Receiver

Receiver footballThink About It.  Cheerful Receiver. You may remember, perhaps I’ve mentioned. In the mid ’60s I would often come home from visiting with radio advertisers porting bags of tomatoes, corn, candy or other offerings clearly not purchased at one of the local stores. Laura Lee says she especially liked the Kraft caramels. Tween son Jim once asked, “Dad, why do people always give you things?”  It took a moment for me to realize, and tell him. At first teasing my poor benighted young son, I said, “Maybe they noticed the holes in my pants.”  I followed quickly that it was more likely they knew I really appreciated their gifts. A sincerely stated “Thank you.” usually does the trick. Perhaps I even added, “The family will really enjoy this.”

Personally I feel that an appropriate response to ‘thank you’ falls in the same category.  When you have shown your appreciation with those two well-practiced words, sometimes you hear, “It was nothing.”  I know, this nation is not alone in this unappreciative habit.  This denial of the gift of thanks seems to be in use the world over.  Among Spanish speakers the answer to ‘gracias’ is often ‘de nada’ (of nothing).  When in Rome and you do as the Romans do, say ‘grazie’ and you may get ‘niente di speciale’ I think. In gay Paris, it’s less fun for me to say ‘merci’ and receive  simple ‘rien’ (nothing) in return.

Among the more genteel French, don’t be surprised to receive “je vous en prie” after a warm “merci beaucoup”.  If your travels take you to more civil environs here in the USA, many gentle people when receiving those magic words ‘thank you’ may return a grateful  ‘You’re welcome’, ‘You are certainly welcome’ or ‘It was my pleasure.’ Try it.  You’ll like it.

Have you ever received a well-meant, but perfunctory, ‘You shouldn’t have.’ instead of ‘thank you’?  Did you do something wrong?  Long pause. What do you say now?

Please don’t tell me I’m old fashioned.  You certainly know I know.  I am also very aware that the human interaction, relationships and communication accompanied by the old fashioned courtesies of speech have helped to provide me with a life for which I am sincerely thankful, thank you.

You’ve heard it said, “The Lord loves a cheerful giver.”  Perhaps I shouldn’t, but I’d be willing to bet, the Lord loves an appreciative accepter.

There is a time and a place for old-fashioned courtesy and sincere acknowledgement of other’s gifts, whether things or words. Turn common courtesy into uncommon courtesy.  Help the human race be a more humane race. I choose to be an uncommon person.  When you say THANK YOU, mean it.  When you say YOU ARE WELCOME, say it with genuine sincerity.  Simply be a Cheerful Receiver. Think About It.

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