Special Deliveries

Now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

“Did you take a trip out to Napa again?” the UPS driver asked. I shook my head, laughing a bit as he held out a device for me to sign electronically for the wine at his feet.

“Some kind of sale, I think,” I said ruefully.

Over the last couple of years, we’ve struck up a friendly relationship with our delivery driver, getting to know him in bits and pieces. He’s always gracious and smiling, even when it’s the hottest of summer days or the coldest of winter ones. One time, he even looped back later to deliver an item he knew we were expecting but hadn’t been home to receive earlier in the day.

I’m grateful for him because I know how hard he works. And over time, the job has gotten harder. Long days, overtime, grumpy customers. He still enjoys his career, but the work is tiring.

So while I’m grateful that items can be delivered to my door, I’m even more thankful for the folks who make the deliveries.

I recently put together a little care package as a small way to say thanks: a cooler full of bottled water and other drinks, along with a variety of sweet and salty snacks. A note taped to the top—decorated by my six-year-old—read, “Thank you! Please take what you’d like,” along with the names of delivery companies. We left it out for a couple of weeks and replaced items each day. By the time we finished, we had given out a couple of dozen items.

Sometimes practicing gratitude simply requires us to notice—to look for someone who might be overlooked, to thank someone who may go unthanked. We love others because Christ first loved us, and the way we treat others is an outpouring of that love. By following his lead, we will overflow with thankfulness for the many blessings we’ve received—and when we do, we’ll begin to notice the many people who are worthy of our gratitude.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Go out of your way to thank someone who delivers mail or packages.