“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Monday, November 24, 2014

Thank You


Thank You... Two small words that can mean so much. My mother taught me to use those words ... often.  Always when receiving a gift or a compliment and in response to some sort of kindness showed to me.

Except that I'm far from perfect and so I'm sure I have forgotten to say or write it sometimes. I apologize for that, if I have ever forgotten to say thank you I am saying it now. Thank You, I'm sending it out to the universe and beyond to those that are still waiting.












It's one of my pet peeves, people that don't say thank you. I have a whole bunch of relatives that never learned to say thank you. You handed them a Christmas present and nothing. Birthday gifts and cards, graduation gifts... nada ... zip ... nothing. Years later you send them a wedding gift and nothing and then a gift for a baby and still a big old goose egg. I don't send gifts anymore to this bunch of relatives, I send my money to charities. I actually get a thank you from them.

It wasn't their fault really, they were never taught. Their mother never required them to say the phrase, because she never said it herself. I bet her mother never taught her either.






There is an old Danish Proverb that says,
"He who gives to me, teaches me to give."



I have a new proverb and it goes like this,
"She who teaches me to say Thank You, enables me to Be Thankful."






So you're thinking, "Geez, what an old grump.", contrare! It has brought me to one thing I am thankful for. I am thankful that I had a mother that cared enough to force me to do things that might have seemed uncomfortable or of little consequence at the time, but that I now know in my elderish years are vitally important.

My mother has been gone now for almost twenty years and I miss her terribly at the holidays, she truly loved this time of year and showed her love in many ways, but I especially remember the food. As a farm wife she was most skilled as a home cook and baker and her meals were legendary in their small farming community.

The last holiday meal that she prepared was Thanksgiving and I can still travel back there in my mind and see the table set with the fancy china and sterling silver.  We had all the standard foods like turkey, dressing, two kinds of potatoes, green beans, cranberry salad and scalloped oysters too. Of course the dessert  was homemade pumpkin pie! What a feast it was!

I am still Thankful even after all these years. I am Thankful for all of the wonderful memories that I have of my mother and father and my siblings when we were all together.  I celebrate now with my husbands family and it is still wonderful even though it's not the same. However I still am thankful for every moment of joy that life brings.

I hope that wherever you are this year that you are able to enjoy some bit of the holiday whether with a group or on your own, there is always something to be thankful for.

Oh, and dear readers, I want to say "Thank You" for sticking with me all these years and reading all my ramblings. You have always been kind and I really appreciate that. So "Cheers, here's to you!" And Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends here in the good old USA!








               Thankful, Joyful, Peaceful



image source

13 comments:

  1. I know exactly what you mean, especially when it comes to not receiving a simple "Thank You" when sending someone money, or a birthday or Christmas gift.

    I certainly wasn't raised that way. To this day, whenever my grandmother gets me something, I always send her a handwritten thank you note or email.

    And you're absolutely right. There usually is something to be thankful for.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for this heartfelt post. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
    Balisha

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think one of the problems is "thank you" and "you're welcome" aren't the easiest words to say in repetition. I known in German, a simple "danke" is one of the easiest words to say

    ReplyDelete
  4. And i wish you a beautiful Thanksgiving too Diane! And i agree. To say thank you and to be grateful and appreciative of all we have.. so very important. Big hug to you across the miles.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Diane,
    It made me smile when I saw your comment because I was just thinking of you today. I noticed that you had a new post, and wanted to come over and see it. This post really hit home for me because my mom taught me to say please and thank you also. I know what you mean about not hearing it that much these days. I can imagine how much you miss your dear mom, especially right now when Thanksgiving was the last holiday meal that she prepared. May the memories of her setting the table with the fancy china and the feast she made be with you always.

    Happy Thanksgiving to my wonderful blog friend in Minnesota.

    love,
    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your post hits the nail on the head. I have also not received the simplest of thank yous for wedding gifts, baby shower gifts, etc. Thankless folks, are best left alone, lol.

    Such sweet memories of your Mom. I am thankful for so many people, friends and family, who have touched my life. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a beautiful and heartwarming post. Lovely and soothing music and photo. I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love, joy and peace!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful post! Thank you...two simple words that say so much. My parents taught me to say this, and say it often. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Diane - thank you for always making your posts a delight to read. I am so grateful for all the special touches you give to your blog and so I Thank You friend because like your dear Mom, mine taught me the same thing and I am forever grateful to her as well. Hugs and have a great Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nope, you're not an old grump. This is one of my pet peeves too! Of course, we don't do nice things just to be thanked, but it's nice to know that when you go out of your way, it's appreciated. Because if the person could care less, why bother? There are plenty of other people to help or make time for. I also hate entitlement, which generally precedes the lack of a thank you.

    (Can you tell I have strong feelings about this?)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello Diane, your post made me feel a little sad as it brought back so many memories of my own mum. I miss my parents all the time but never more than at this time of the year. Saying please and thank you comes naturally to me because they insisted on it.
    Thank you for being such a lovely person.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A beautiful post, thank you for sharing. x

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think you are right for everything you have said! I agree with you my friend ;o)
    I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving ;o)
    I am thankful for having a friend in you ;o)
    Big Hugs ;o)

    ReplyDelete

ATTENTION SPAMMERS! COMMENT MODERATION IS TURNED ON. ONLY AUTHORIZED COMMENTS WILL APPEAR.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.