You may remember this post from a few weeks ago, where I expressed my frustration about a student who had failed to write a thank you note for additional emergency aid that she received.  I also reflected on how grateful I am that God doesn’t remove our blessings when we fail to display gratitude:

“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.”

So the update is- after removing the student’s aid, she contacted us and sent in a very long thank-you note; which she said had been sent weeks before, but we had never received.  Fortunately, the emergency aid that she so desperately needed was reinstated; and I believe that she has learned a lesson about the value of follow-through ensuring that timely information reaches its destination; as well as a lesson in checking email consistently.

I’m just glad she’s able to stay in school.

Peace and blessings!

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!