Recently I have been engaging with utility companies to get some work done in the house. This can be frustrating, involving endless phonecalls, changing passwords and protracted negotiations.

However now and again, a company does something really good. They respond to your call, do what you ask promptly, and the repair is made.

The interesting thing is when you try to thank them. Some companies don’t have a facility to thank them. When you look on the website, there is a bit for complaints, but no category for appreciation or positive feedback.

So I decided to phone the company. There was no option for thanking them. I was on hold for 20 minutes trying to get through. When I did, I had to give my details and password and then when they asked me for the nature of my enquiry, I said I wanted to say thank you. The call handler laughed and said in all the years that he had worked in the call centre, no one ever phoned to thank them for doing a good job. (I am sure that was not true).

As a society however, we seem to have forgotten how to say thank you. We find it easy to be negative, to complain, to criticise. We are less likely to thank or show appreciation.

It reminds me of the story from Luke 17 of the ten men with leprosy. When they became well, only one came back to thank Jesus. I think that God might be challenging us to have more thankful hearts. We can be thankful for family and friends, for work and purpose, for faith and life itself- just to be able to breath each day. For all we have, we are called to thank God.

If we are thankful to God, I think then we can be more thankful to each other. And this is no small thing. In our society there is such a wave of impatience, fear, frustration and suspicion. To be respectful, to be humorous, to be compassionate can be countercultural. It challenges some of the destructive social norms of the day, and reminds people that thanksgiving, civility and appreciation are meant to be the norm rather than the exception. Perhaps if we live like this, every time we are more thankful and appreciative, then maybe we can change the spiritual temperature just a little, and share possibilities of hope for a better world.

Loving Lord Jesus Christ, You call us to be salt and light in our society, to model your truth, compassion and concern for justice in our lives. We confess though it is so easy to get caught up in the mood of the crowd, to gossip, to criticise, even to hate. Father, forgive us. Where are hearts have become hard, soften them, where are attitudes have become worldly, cleanse us and bring renewal to the thoughts in our mind. By your holy spirit humble us and enable us to see clearly, to be thankful for all we have. And then inspire us to show that spirit of generosity and thanksgiving to others. For your glory’s sake and in Jesus’ name, Amen