For the past few months I’ve been in a battle with a student to get them to send a thank you note. There are certain types of aid that students can receive that are funded by donors, and we require students to send thank you notes as a small gesture of appreciation for the thousands of dollars that this person (or family) is individually investing in their education.
Most students promptly write thank you notes, but this student failed to respond to any of my emails or voicemails. It was quite frustrating, because this student came to me at a low point needing help and I advocated on their behalf to get them additional financial support so that they could stay enrolled at school. Now, all I need for you to do is say thank you to finish the process, and you can’t do that? You can’t even respond to any of my attempts to reach you? Sigh.
I kept thinking about my frustration, and then I was humbled because I realize that I can be that way with God. There have been times that I’ve come to God at my low point, in serious need of a blessing, a healing, a deliverance- and He provides. And then it’s all “business as usual” for me- and I haven’t taken the time to properly say “Thank You”.
With my student, their failure to finish the process and send a thank you note has resulted in a reversal of the funds, meaning the funds will be removed and they will have to figure out a way to finance any remaining balance on their account. Thankfully God’s grace and mercy doesn’t have “reversal consequences” in our lives, where He goes back and reverses or removes a blessing because our lack of gratitude or our failure to respond to his attempts to reach us.
While I’m praying that my student will learn from this experience, I realize that I have learned as well. The lesson is the same: just say “thank you”. Whether it’s people who have blessed you through their kindness and generosity, or whether it’s God continuously providing and blessing you, it’s still important to say thank you.
Who do you need to say “thank you” to?
Be encouraged! Peace and blessings!
life beyond the well... 
February 20, 2013 at 12:36 pm
I wonder why the student failed to show how thankful he or she was for the added financial support? I don’t understand. I am sure it will be a valuable learning experience for years to come.
February 24, 2013 at 2:01 pm
I really admire how you took the opportunity to reverse this on yourself and to us(through this blog). Even though its mesmerizing that this student really needed the help yet would not return his kindness by simply delivering a Thank you. It automatically makes you(or maybe just me) want to give the student a hard time. However, the perspective you switched it to was like amazing. We really do do this to God ALL THE TIME! Love the way you worked this! Keep inspiring us!
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