Dear Friends,
Thoughtfulness is a wonderful quality to possess. According to one
dictionary definition it is simply “the consideration for the needs of other
people.”
Thoughtfulness means “spending time putting yourself in other
people's shoes. It means considering what is in the best interest of others. It
means putting thought into what can make others feel good. Thoughtfulness
involves focusing on caring for others through your words and actions” (From
the Internet).
Some people just seem to possess the quality of thoughtfulness in
full measure. They just show up at the right time, say the right words, offer
the right help, share the perfect gift. Thoughtfulness is a gift that seems to
come naturally to some people.
In celebrating a recent birthday. I was blessed to be the
beneficiary of our team’s thoughtfulness. The team thoughtfully chose to
celebrate my birthday at my favorite Chinese restaurant. Someone thoughtfully
picked out some balloons to decorate the table, and they all chose especially
thoughtful gifts. Nothing lavish for thoughtfulness is never expensive. A
simple card with a chocolate candy bar with an accompanying encouraging note of
gratitude, an autobiography, “My House of Memories” by the late Merle Haggard,
my favorite country singer, and a tribute CD of country stars honoring Merle
with the singing of many of his hits. And accompanying the book and CD was a
tribute shirt of that concert with the names of all those country singers who
performed at the concert.
I received another book, A Leader’s Heart, a 365 Day
Devotional Journal by John Maxwell, one of my favorite writers. And then came a
face mask with the emblem of my favorite team, the Cleveland Indians. And then
to cap it off there was the surprise gift of all, an artfully handcrafted ice
cream cake made by one of our team. Knowing my love for Aldi’s Grocery Store
and aware of two of my favorite Aldi’s ice cream flavors, “Thank You Cherry,
Cherry Much” and “Make Fudge Not War,” he had mixed the flavors together into a
cake that was covered with whipped cream, to produce and ice cream cake that
rivaled anything that Carvel could ever create.
Nothing lavish, but ‘expensively’ thoughtful were those gifts for
each one of them screamed "I cared enough to choose a special gift that I
thought would touch your heart."
I wish I could be as thoughtful as some of my staff, but I am not.
Too often have been the times I have rushed to Walgreens in the middle of the
night to pick up a some balloons, a card and some Jean Nate perfume (my
go to birthday/anniversary gift) to be packaged with a previously purchased
Outback gift card to be presented to Jean on some special occasion. Shame
on me for not putting more time and thought into my gifts.
My staff taught me a great lesson in thoughtfulness last week, and
it is a lesson that I hope I will never forget. They taught me that
thoughtfulness doesn’t cost a lot, just a heart prompted by love, and coupled
with a little time and effort-all designed to bring joy to the
heart of another person.
Mary Martin speaks to me when she writes, let’s “stop the habit of
wishful thinking and start the habit of thoughtful wishes.”
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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