AS kids, we were taught by our parents and elders to say “thank you” whenever someone gave us a gift, or showed us kindness.
But it seems, especially in our fast-paced Internet world, saying “thank you” has become an automatic, and not a heartfelt, response.
Worse, in many instances, an expression of gratitude has become obsolete.
Many, if not most, of us take everything for granted and move, without the slightest acknowledgment let alone thankfulness, from one situation to the next as if everyone, and life itself, owes us.
The Malay translation for “thank you” is terima kasih. Its literal meaning is “received with love”. Is there a better meaning than receiving something good with love — genuine, sincere love?
Every day, when we wake up, we should say thanks to God, for life itself, health and our family. And, for the food, shelter and all the daily necessities of life that we have, we must express our bountiful thankfulness.
For the benefits, opportunities and amenities: clean water, sanitation, electricity, transport, healthcare, education, jobs and more — if only we count our manifold blessings. We need to thank our parents, elders, family members, teachers, friends, the government, businesses and communities, perhaps several times each day.
Let’s not forget to thank those who provide us services in and around our homes — where we shop, get our food, those who provide transport and all those who facilitate our life and work.
And, for the security, peace, justice and the basic freedoms we enjoy, we need to be thankful to the authorities and all who make it possible.
One set of numbers alone must jerk us out of complacency and make us thankful a million times over. More than 1.3 billion of the world’s population live in extreme poverty.
Thousands are dying each day due to disease and conflict, and our thankfulness for all that we are blessed with must flow unendingly like an eternal spring — showing we really “receive with love”, and taking time to express our gratitude, even for the smallest help or benefit we receive.
In fact, being thankful is one of the most important elements of worship.
Not only are we recognising God for His amazing attributes like sovereignty and patience in blessing us in miraculous ways, we are also learning to recognise His presence in our lives through acts of kindness to us.
More importantly, a thankful heart is a generous heart.
When we show kindness to others and it is, in turn, received with love by them, that gratitude is not just meant for us but it touches the very heart of God.
“Thank you” is not a static expression.
It is a responsibility that helps to pass on the love received, multiplying it a hundredfold in a world bereft of genuine love.
RUEBEN DUDLEY, Petaling Jaya, Selangor