On Sunday evening I began to open thank you cards. Each day, a few at time until my eyes become too teary to read the blurred words. Today I managed a bigger stack, although I have no desire to rush through them. Like my savoring of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series, there is far more reason to slow down than hurry up!
In January, I picked up a weekly habit I’d set aside for a year, writing 4-5 thank you notes on Tuesday mornings. Calling/texting or emailing each member of St. John on their birthdays replaced this practice in 2022. This year, it’s back to the routine I learned from Chick Lane. Tuesday thank you’s recognize how members of St. John live out our mission of Living in Service to Christ. The child who smiles at someone new at worship, the person who shares an offering of music or advocates for justice in a public way set the mission in motion. Deacons and pastors often witness faith-filled moments and I find it so fun to point them out.
Thank you are words that offer a warm embrace, a friendly bear hug. Perhaps the Spirit draws us closer together when we recognize human generosity. Amid the busy landscape of people’s lives, these two words given or received slow us down enough to notice how much we all need each other.
I’m not sure how other industries recognize 15 years of service. But these cards are by far the greatest gift of all! Thank you.
Photo by Helena Lopes: https://www.pexels.com/photo/four-person-standing-on-cliff-in-front-of-sun-697243/
Lisa Lewton 