How do you say Thank you?

I had an incident happen that I will relate in a little while. But first, how are you at receiving gifts or compliments? We are givers, both Sherry and I. I like to give with no strings attached. I once gave a preacher I knew a gift. He said, “Thank you brother, the Lord will reward you for your thoughtfulness.”
My response was, “You are right Reverend, His reward to me is the smile on your face!”

This is no brag, just fact (as Will Sonnet would say!) but one year (when we were rich, LOL) we gave more money away than we made the year before. God has blessed us, we have worked hard and long, but hold this Biblical truth to be self evident, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

I have also been given gifts. Don & Evelyn our friends and now neighbors, loaned the machine to transfer our VHS to DVD & furnished the DVD’s. They would not even let us replace the DVD’s. It is hard for me to know how to accept. I get in a quandary.

I have developed a habit of looking around in a restaurant for anyone in uniform. If I spot a uniform I pay their check if possible. I do appreciate young men and women who volunteer for our armed forces.

Shirl’s husband Jim (who served as a Lt. in the Army), made it a habit as he traveled to shake every military man’s hand he could, to thank him for his service. That habit even extended to me. It always embarrassed me because he had served his country also. So I always returned the compliment.

In all my years of service Jim was the only man who actually voiced that view. I never expected it, because I was doing what I wanted to do, serve this country. It was my dream from age four, so I was living my dream. I did not expect a thank you. But I think it is nice for folks to express it to other Vets and Service men and women. Women find it easier or are more thoughtful, this year I could add more ladies to that, right off the top there are Terri, Debbie, Betty and Glendy, so here is a thanks for the Thanks. “THANKS”. One note here; it was mentioned in a comment about my Sherry, she does deserve appreciation. Military wives and families experience more anxiety I think, than the troops themselves, my respect for them is VERY HIGH.

Now to what I alluded to at the beginning of this entry the following e-mail brought tears to my eyes, I could not read it to Grandma for crying (here I go again):

Hey Grandpa, I just thought I would send you an e-mail thanking you for your service to this country. I don't know if I have ever told you that before. I hope that you are having a good day today and that it is still warm in Florida. You have been an awesome grandpa, and I just wanted you to know that I appreciate what you chose to do with many years of your life, serving your country; even while you were raising children and being a husband, you chose to continue serving in the armed forces. I love you and grandma,

-Josh (Josh is a Senior at UNCC, either the head of his class or close to it.)

Last year his Twin Stephen told us he was on the Dean’s list (Mars Hill College), I asked Josh if he made the Deans list, He said no Grandpa. (I immediately felt bad for asking), Then he sorta smiled and said I am on the Chancellors’ list. Since I know everything I congratulated him, and privately asked someone what is that?

What can I say? What a tribute.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
It is near impossible to type and cry at the same time.,,,,

I came back and can type now. I think I am normal (?LOL), but I just wanted to ask a question what have you received thanks for that made you uncomfortable