Giving Thanks

I recently returned from a great two weeks' holiday. The first week was spent near Honiton, in Devon, in a converted farm property. I sharing the holiday with not only my immediate family, but overall around 35 members of my wider family (4 sisters and a brother and their families). It was some gathering, following in the tradition of 5-yearly family holidays begun by my Dad when he retired in 1984! This family holiday was made rather poignant by the fact that only a week or so after the end of the holiday my brother, Phil, set off to begin a new job in New Zealand!

The second holiday week was spent in the tiny hamlet of Buckland in the Cotswolds (a rather smaller gathering this, with just Sue and I and our two daughters, Caz & Steph). I find the Cotswolds such a fascinating place to visit. Each village and town seems to have its own unique identity. And I love to browse the many antique centres and second hand bookshops. We did quite well with the weather, only one really wet day, which isn't bad for a fortnight in the UK, even if it is supposed to be summertime.

My overall feeling right now is one of thanksgiving. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a couple of weeks away from the normal routine, to relax, enjoy visiting new places, and recharge the batteries. I am also very thankful for the great family I belong to. Of course, we don't choose the family we are born into, but I couldn't have chosen a better one! So I say thank you to God for all the many ways he has blessed me.

"Thank You" are two very important words. I feel sure that they are not said often enough. After all, it costs nothing to say thank you, but it can mean an awful lot to the person to whom we speak the words. I try to make it a habit to say thank you as much as possible, and to let people know how much I appreciate them and what they do. It's not a bad habit to cultivate.