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The great thing about gratefulness
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As any experienced traveler will tell you, the two most important
keys for survival overseas are: 1.) don't drink the water and 2.)
always say "thanks." I have experienced the truth of both
of these pointers in a very real way. I shan't expound on the first
(it should be fairly obvious) but the second, well, that is something
I can talk about in public.
Danke, Terima Kasih, Tesekkur Ederrim, Spasiba, Xie xie, Gracias,
Cheerio. No matter what the language, they all express a personal
gratitude of thankfulness . . . except Cheerio. Which, by the way,
one shouldn't use when introducing himself in England, and don't
ask me how I know this.
While in foreign countries I am quick to say "thanks"
with an innocent "I'm a stupid and obnoxious American"
smile, but I hardly share these same words with those at home who
deserve them most.
With the recent contribution by TAASC (Tax and Accounting Software
Corporation) of over 100 computers and 20 printers, not saying thanks
was out of the question. Such a donation is obviously very generous,
and I don't logically understand why they would be so gracious.
I mean it makes sense to give a token $1,000 to charity and then
launch a $50,000 ad campaign to let everyone know of the company's
benevolence. But to spend over $l00,000 and then ask not to be identified
is silly, really. Unless, of course, they are just really nice.
I guess what I'm trying to say is "thanks." Thank you,
TAASC, for the generous gift and your thoughtfulness. I know I speak
for the entire student body when I say a heartfelt "Gracias."
I also speak for the student body when I say that we will take care
of them (because if we don't, we will find ourselves suspended from
the prayer tower - and it's cold outside).
However, TAASC isn't the first, nor will it be the last, group
of individuals whose generosity and sacrifice has benefitted the
students at Oral Roberts University. ORU was built by the sacrifice
of partners from around the world, and established by the prayers
and hard work of people not unlike you and me.
This article could easily become a long list of the people that
have impacted and are impacting ORU, for the debt of love and gratitude
we owe them is great, but maybe it would be better if we told them
ourselves.
Maybe we should tell those working in Marriott, Security and
the Post Office "thanks." Perhaps we should acknowledge
the hard work that housekeeping, Registrar and Student Accounts
are doing to keep up and clean up after us. We need to express our
gratitude to our RAs by listening in hall meeting and to our Chaplains
by attending their devos.
It doesn't take long to realize, if you think about it, how many
people have impacted your life. Often they have given with no reward
and are even sometimes mistreated.
My parents quickly come to my mind. The ones who gave me life
and continue to lead and sustain me. What thanks do they get? The
AMS statement. Next would be my relatives who have written and given
to me on every birthday and Christmas. The love of my family has
been reciprocated by enough thank you cards to fill a nonexistent
file cabinet. Sure, I have intended to write and thank them, but
in truth, if I really thought it was important I would have done
so.
The Institute in Basic Life Principles puts gratitude into perspective
with its definition of humility. "Humility is realizing that
one's success is due to the contributions that God and others have
made in one's life." I'm afraid that dispels any fear of mine
that I might be humble, for I very rarely realize and acknowledge
the gifts and blessings that others have sown into me (This revelation
should put back the release date of my next book The Ten Most Humble
People in the World. and How I Met the Other Nine). Why so many
people continue to do so is beyond me.
I hope, however, that it is not too late to say "Thank you,"
because I really mean it.
Please forgive me, oh, and Cheerio.
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