“Say Thank You”

Do we need to thank people for just doing what’s expected ? Certainly there’s common courtesy …. someone pumps your gas, someone hands you a bulletin at the end of Mass, someone let’s you go ahead in traffic….”hey thanks”. 

If you’re at work, you expect people to do their job… they’re suppose to do their job ….they have agreed to do a job …. they are getting paid to do a job. Do you need to thank them? “ In the Army you don’t usually hear, ”Private, thanks for standing guard duty, for making your bunk, for doing “KP”….. terrific job, wonderful effort….sit down and have a glass of beer…”. 

Jesus adds some food for thought.  “Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down at table?  Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'”(Luke 17:7-10) So on one hand the Lord says, don’t be looking for any kudos, you’re just doing what was commanded….. hmmmmm.

Is that all there is to it? Should we not express gratitude when someone one has done their duty? I admit that it means something to me when someone thanks me for doing something for them, even if it’s my duty. I thank Judy when she’s made a delicious meal for me; maybe it’s her duty, but it still deserves some notice and a thank you.

It appears that at the end of our life, the Lord will speak differently…. to the faithful servant, he will say, “ well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” (Mt. 25:23) The Lord notices all that we do, even that which is expected of us. In the end, he will thank us and bless us, well beyond  what we have done. Even on this earth, he promises 30-60 and 100 fold return. (Mt.13:8)

So where does that leave us? Do we say “serve me, you can eat later” or do we welcome the servant and thank him and reward him? I believe it’s both. I believe “gratitude” is a “kingdom” virtue. Being gracious is a godly quality. Gratitude lifts everyone up. A sincere thank you uplifts our spirit. Even if you’re suppose to wash the dishes, it’s good to receive a sincere thank you and appreciation. Even if our job is to make the meal, an enthusiastic cheer for a delicious meal is a good thing….”boy, that was good…thank you so much ”. At the same time, it’s our privilege to serve and we shouldn’t be begging for a “praise & thank you”. Serving the Lord is reward enough.

So I guess in the final analysis, it’s a ”both-and”. Thank you Lord for the privilege of being able to serve…. serving you is the greatest of reward…. and thanks to all who love and serve me, I am very blessed.