Dear one.
Last week I was reminded of the power and life contained in two, not-so-little words: “thank you.” And yet with thought, I recognized that, in our English usage, they are heard and function as one word: “thankue.” Most likely this shortened version once captured the thought: “I thank you” or “I give you thanks.” But if so, then the question arises: What is thanks?
In terms of its derivation, our English verb “to thank” is related to the German verb “danken,” which, however, is very closely related to the German word “to think,” or denken. Thus, as in German so too in English: “thank” and “think” are closely aligned. Perhaps I’m only stating the obvious, nonetheless “thanks” or “thanks-giving” is intended to be a thoughtful, positive expression of praise or gratitude.[1]
Now I hope I don’t sound like a cantankerous schoolmarm, but it seems to me that our quick and sometimes frequent “thankue” often lacks genuine thought and praise. Oh, I know that as children we were taught to say “thank you” as a means of being polite and civil, and I wouldn’t undo that teaching. But I would suggest that we will do well, if we add that little word “for” to the words “thank you.” Rather than assuming that “thankue” expresses all that’s necessary, when we add “for” we are now moving beyond polite civility; we are now giving thought and praise for something or someone; we are now at a moment when one heart-mind might truly connect with another heart-mind.
Thanks-giving now becomes sincere gratitude, and “gratitude” in its Latin form not only indicates that which “pleases,” but that which is of “favor” or “grace.”[2] And as I’ve shared with you previously, the Greek word “thanksgiving,” εὐχαριστία, has at its heart the word χάρις, or “grace.” In other words, “thank you for” can be a moment of grace for both the giver and the receiver of thanksgiving.
Last week, when I received a sincere “thank you for,” I experienced grace, that is, I then knew that what I had done was good and right: my effort was appreciated and lauded. But I also found myself giving thanks to the One who had given me the gifts, the resources, the time, and the opportunity to do what I did. Thanksgiving led to thanksgiving, and therein I knew wholeness and wellbeing. Admittedly, Putin’s war still wreaked its destruction, but for a moment I glimpsed the Apostle’s understanding:
“In Christ we have obtained an inheritance … in order that we, who first hoped in Christ, might live for the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12).
In other words, if you will, we were created to give praise or thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is inherent to our original humanity, and yet, when we do not, we became less than the intent of our Creator, we became sub-human (Romans 1:21-23).
Thanks-giving can be a most human, wondrous, and freeing moment for both giver and receiver.
Thankful for,
Stan
[1] New American Oxford Dictionary.[2] Cf. gratia, Cassell’s Latin Dictionary.