A Simple Note

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:20-26 ESV).

I’m not getting senile. I know the reading today is the same as yesterday. I really couldn’t quite leave it. You have heard me say many times how important an encouraging word or gesture is to others. Perhaps one of the most powerful of those gestures is a handwritten note of love or thanks. Truthfully it is one of the most difficult things to do. Since the beginning, people have struggled with the right way to say thank you. From prehistoric grunts around a campfire (Urrrp…good meat) all the way to present-day postings on Face Book (shout out to my peeps!), we’ve come up with lots of easy ways to say thanks. Phone calls, emails, text messages all get the job done. But a handwritten thank-you note is much greater in impact. It tells our friends and family that we went out of our way to sit down and write just to them, because they’re worth it. And if that’s not an improvement over the campfire grunt, what is? The hardest part of writing a thank-you note, for many, is just starting it. How do I begin? Does it sound forced? Can I say enough to fill the page? To help you face your fears, here’s a simple thank-you letter template:  First, greet your recipient. Don't forget to make sure you're using the correct form and spelling of the person's name, as well as anyone else's mentioned in the note. Even if it is a close family member, familial names are so important to us.  Second, express your thanks. Begin with the two most important words, “Thank you.”  Third, add specific details. Tell them how you felt because of what they did. The emotion of gratitude is vital for encouragement.  Fourth, end with your regards. Tell them how you feel toward them. Expressions of love become the most powerful of seeds planted in someone’s life. What a way to spend the remainder of your Lent! Write a note everyday… a real paper note, written by hand and sent by “snail mail.” What a blessing that will be.