INTRODUCTION

Pastor Steve is launching a "Year of Gratitude" theme at Northridge United Methodist Church.  We will be challenged with saying "thank you" to someone every day.

I remember thank you notes.  I remember my mother making me write them.  Birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, graduation gifts, wedding gifts.  I didn't like writing them, but they fell into something of a template.

Dear [insert name],

Thank you very much for the [insert thing here].  It is just the right [size, color, something].  I can't wait to [wear, use, play] it when [insert time and place here].

And so on.

I know now that if I wrote them by rote, lacking true gratitude, perfunctorily, they were probably received in much the same way.  So this year must be different.  I don't want to just speak the words "thank you."  I want to feel real gratitude and let people know they are truly appreciated.

Okay, I'm ready for this.

Oh, one unexpected downside:  I thought about saying "thank you" to someone just yesterday and then wondered if I should wait until the new year.