To The Ones Who Say "Thank you"

To the ones who say “thank you”… Thank you.

Two simple words can mean so much.

A few days ago a co-work said to me, “Thank you for cooking supper. You go underappreciated around here.” They may have been serious or they may have been being sarcastic, but in that moment, those were exactly the words I needed to hear. I had been having a rough day, and work wasn’t making things any better, and I had been feeling very underappreciated. Just because I'm the cook I have it easy and I don't work as hard, at least that's what I had been told. But to know that someone did appreciate me that day was enough to transform a rough day into a good day. So to that co-worker, thank you for saying thank you.

Did you know that a person will tell 11 people about a bad experience, but only 4 people about a good one. No wonder there is so much negativity in this world! We should start boasting about our positive experiences rather than our negative ones.

It doesn’t take much to break something, but it takes a lot longer to put something back together. The same goes for people; it doesn’t take much to hurt someone, but it takes a lot longer to pick up those pieces and glue them back together.

Saying a simple thank you, taking a few extra minutes out of your day to sincerely ask how someone is doing, to simply smile, these things create moments of joy in someone’s life, including your own.

Mom, dad, thank you. For literally everything. Thank you for supporting me, putting me through Christian education, food, a home, the cabin, clothes, whatever I’ve ever needed you’ve provided. I could never thank you both enough for how hard you work to supply for our family. Thank you for supporting my dreams and encouraging me to pursue them. Thank you for coming to practically all of my volleyball games even when I never played. Thank you for my brother and for Julius. Thank you for all of the necessities and all of the luxuries. But most of all, thank you for always loving me even when I do not deserve it and even when I’ve screwed up.

Little Guy, thank you. For picking on me and beating me up. For locking me in my room and in a cooler, for making me stronger, for making me laugh. Thank you for being the protective brother I know that you are but don’t want to show. Thank you for always being honest and stating your opinion, even if it is brutal. Thank you for teaching me how to tie my shoes and letting me sneak across our room to your bed when we were younger to have farting and burping contests when we were supposed to be sleeping (PS: I always won) I love you, I do, and I’m happy and grateful that out of all the Eli's in the world, I'm stuck with you. You’re my favorite brother.

Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts and uncles, and cousins. Thank you for your constant love, support, and prayers, especially with my trip to Spain coming up soon. Thank you for being a part of our crazy family! I love you all and I'll miss you!

Friends; Jacquelyn Rochelle Kunst, Ellen Murielle Zylstra, Amanda Joy Kleinheksel, Naarah Ann Foster, Emmy Anna Shouse, Matthew Jesse Leo, Abby (insert middle name, I want to say Lynn?) Carlson, thank you. For always making time to spend quality time with me despite having your own lives and significant others. For making me laugh and laughing with me or at me. For letting me cry in your arms/in front of you. Thank you for helping me and walking with me through all life’s struggles. Thank you for loving me, the good and the bad parts of me. I love you and cherish all of you so dearly.

Co-workers, residents, and bosses, thank you. For allowing me to do my job and love what I am doing. Thank you for letting me take some time off so I can study in Spain! Thank you for being willing to pick up shifts and be flexible. Thank you for working together as a team so we can provide the best care for the old folks :) And for not treating any one job more important than another. Thank you for making my job so special. I love you all and I’m so grateful I have such great co-workers.

Everyone else, thank you. For being you, for being my friend/family/acquaintance. You are all in my life for a reason and I am in all of your lives for a reason. You are all so special and dearly loved by Abba.

Two simple words, "Thank you."

It’s all it takes.

1 Corinthians 12--> the body has many parts and no one part is more important than the other because they each play a specific role and one cannot operate without the other.