Giving thanks

 

So many people have given so much of themselves in the past 18   months, both in a paid and voluntary capacity, locally and nationally. There are those who come to mind easily: workers in the NHS and care homes, teachers, parents trying to work and home-school at the same time, vaccine researchers, community volunteers, many of them in our benefice villagers, who shopped and delivered prescriptions and kept an eye on vulnerable people living alone,

   There are others less in the public eye who have worked tirelessly to keep the infrastructure going that enabled so much else to happen: workers in the power industry, telecommunications sphere, refuse collectors, shop staff and so on.

   We have high expectations of people and the services we expect, and there is nothing wrong in that, except when we end up taking them for granted. The problem then is that we are very quick to complain when things go wrong, but so often remember to thank people for good service. It means so much to the receiver when someone takes the trouble to send a card, letter or email thanking them for good service received. And it’s clearly all too rare. I know when I have rung up companies to congratulate them and express my gratitude for something good they are quite often surprised because they expect it to be a complaint.

   We teach our children to say thank you and we are often good at showing our appreciation to the people around us, but it’s worth thinking too of the many, many people we don’t know who still affect our lives in a positive way. And expressing positivity on social media is a great way of counteracting some of the negativity that lurks there too.

   A particular thanks this month needs to go to the Revd Rosie Coldwell, who for the past five years has been part of our benefice team. Rosie has conducted services, preached, led and been part of home groups, visited and cared for people, prayed and supported our communities, churches and me as Vicar. I know that others will join me in wanting to thank her for all she has done during this time, and to wish her well for the future as she moves up north.

   Rosie, a big THANK YOU, and may God bless you now and in the months and years ahead. We’ll miss you!

 

 

With best wishes

Sarah