Thank you...

Thank you.  Such a simple phrase of just two small words, but it conveys so much emotion.  Gratitude is only the first feeling it can begin to convey.  Acknowledgment of the good done by someone else is key to keeping harmony in interpersonal relationships.  No one can grow unhappy as fast as someone who feels unappreciated.  Respect is another element of thank you.  Verbally saying it or taking time to write down words of thanks is a sign of respect towards the other party.  A person who has respect will always be a grateful person.

Honor is something we convey in our expressions of gratitude.  Making sure that anyone who does us a service is a recipient of our honor is a sign of maturity.  Honor is a way of gaining access.  Honor opens doors, not sycophantic brown-nosing, but genuine thoughtfulness.  A wise person will be able to determine who is just a servile flatterer, and who exhibits authentic honor.  Wisdom is also a part of saying thank you.  The great leader was first a great servant.  A great servant is one who can display grace under fire, and heart-felt thankfulness.  Wisdom cannot be achieved without recognition of wisdom in others, and the pursuing of that wisdom.  Thank you opens doors.  Again, thank you is an access granter.  An unthankful person is almost always a foolish person.  Ignorance may cause a lack of recognition, but chronic failure to be thankful is a mark of the fool. 

Maturity can manifest itself in our ability to honor.  A child can show basic thankfulness when something is done for them in an outright fashion.  The ice cream cone, the birthday or Christmas gift, or the new bicycle will all probably cause a reaction of thank you.  However, their limited knowledge and lack of wisdom will fail to see the opportunity for thank you when daddy comes home late from work.  The child will many times only register disappointment that he wasn't there to play catch, and miss that he was providing for them all the while.  How we as mature people must separate ourselves is to be on the lookout for these opportunities.  This will show our wisdom, our honor, our respect, our leadership, our maturity, and our gratitude.