“THANK YOU!”

 

 

This story has an excellent point! (All of mine do!)

You see, I love to crochet. (This is not the point.) I started crocheting in my twenties and now I am sixty-seven… Basically I learned from crochet books because back in the day (I love that expression!) I didn’t own a computer; I couldn’t google YouTube and watch and listen as to learning an unknown stitch. And, I didn’t have any family members to teach me, help me…

I did try once to have a co-worker help me. But we both decided we couldn’t handle it: I am right-handed and she was left. Too bad. But I did persevere and was more than able to make beautiful blankets for many  years before online assistance. Yea! I credit this to the great books people have put out (with pictured instructions) on how to learn to crochet. I can even crochet magnificent tablecloths with very fine crochet thread thanks to them!

Right now (2023) I’m making beautiful things and storing them up for a craft sale – or better yet – and my favorite — giving them as gifts!

My very fun hobby of crocheting isn’t cheap. Over these many years I’m certain I’ve spent thousands of dollars on yarn. One of the reasons it’s so great for me to crochet is because I get my cat’s beautiful lavender afghan (for Pewter, my gorgeous Russian Blue), put it on my lap, put her on top; or she just comes. Pewter knows that’s her specific and special blankee!) I will crochet for hours on some days, depending on my other projects and work. I’m also able to listen (for the most part) when I crochet! So it’s not ‘down time’ for me – it’s relaxing and refreshing time! Also, I listen to great Christians as I create masterpieces.

Don’t get me wrong: I am fully and humbly aware that I can do nothing without God, not even breath! But with Him I can do powerful, beautiful, and anointed works! Amen and amen

I could never crochet without those books, without the yarn manufacturers!

 

AND NOW MY POINT OF: THE POWER OF SAYING “THANK YOU!”

 

Saying “Thank you!” is a gift back to the giver… And when one is not properly thanked, disappointment comes. And it should. Beloved, God has created us all to be family, all His children: all are not.

Selah.

Herewith begins the sorrows of man’s lack of love to man: not being a child of God. People who do not love God do not love their fellow man. Try as they may, they can’t do anything without God’s empowerment. Love is a choice; as well as respect and appreciation.

Tell me, are you likely to want to give a second gift when no “Thank you!” was deeply bestowed? I’m not. To bless a person who is unthankful may seem wrong as well. It hurts to not be truly appreciated; but above that, to reward unloving and hurtful behavior is not wise, nor is it beneficial to the arrogant and unthankful…

Selah.

This is in human, secular terms. However, God is long-suffering, perfect, unwavering, and always holy. Our Father in Heaven (He is not the Father to the sinner) comes to the point of no longer extending His offer to the unrepentant, the reprobate, the apostate:

 

John 3:16-21
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

 

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

 

Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

 

Selah.

These holy Scriptures above cited reminds us all – or initially tells some of us – we must choose God now!

THE CASE IN POINT
which brings me to write this story about my crocheting. A couple of months ago Duane told me he needed a baby blanket for a boy. I was totally excited! I have several beautiful (make that ‘handsome’) blue baby blankets ready and very, very willing to give away. I picked a huge one in the shape of a square. Having very many different textures, this blanket is an eye-opener. It truly is stunning!

Again, I remind you: don’t think I’m bragging. I am definitely not! Who is it that gave me the ability to read a complicated crochet pattern, work my mind and hands with  flowing motion to engage the hook with the yarn? Who is it that made the yarn (not me) and the pattern (again, not me)?

There is no such thing as a self-made man…

Selah.

DUANE HELD ONTO THE BLANKET for several weeks because the man was gone from work. He had no clue we had a stunning and homemade baby blanket made specially for a boy who turned out to be his boy! When Duane finally was able to take it to work and give it to him, we were both thrilled to give his son such a lovely gift: and we did give it in love. Remember: we spent money, I spent time (quite a bit) on this unique gift.

Selah.

The next day when Duane came home he went into detail about how much this man raved about my blanket, now his son’s. I was quite impressed that he noticed so much about it, being a man. It made me even happier that this daddy was so thrilled with it…

AND YET…

Duane told me this guy was going to send me a “THANK YOU!” note! I was very pleased. To me (and I am certain, to most all people) “Thank you” notes are very, very much appreciated.

The time, the money, the love, the proper gift being appreciated and cherished are very important. But so is the appreciation given to the gift giver.

I WAITED FOR MY NOTE OF APPRECIATION…
It never came. It never came. And it hurts. Because this man told Duane, “I’m going to write a “THANK YOU” note to your wife.” I expected it. Don’t you know it can take less than five minutes to do so? Why, he didn’t even have to mail it!

As I was thinking about writing this story today, an old memory came back to me from years ago; probably forty. Duane and I sent some exceptional lamps to a woman who was a good friend of his family for years: the eldest daughter. There again, no “THANK YOU!” note… When we found from someone else one had arrived broken (sent from Minnesota to California) we were even more disappointed! We could have sent a replacement! We were told by her mother she did think the lamps were very pretty and unique! Too bad again: too bad for her; too bad for us.

AND HERE’S THE LESSON:

Do you remember the story of The Ten Lepers?

 

Luke 17:11-20
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.  As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance  and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

 

MY CONCLUSSION:
I never will stop giving gifts to people. More than likely I would not (I am fairly certain) give another gift to an unthankful, rude person… But, if I give a gift with Duane or through him (such as a co-worker again) I’ve already told him:

“If they say they’re going to send a “Thank you!” card – don’t tell me.” No disappointment there!

Beloved, keep a loving and giving heart! It helps to remember how God has forgiven each and every one of us!