German philosopher Meister Eckhart said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough.”
Two words. How could that possibly be enough?
I say those two words all the time. Just today, I said them when someone said Bless you after I sneezed. I said them to a coworker who did a great job with a task I asked her to do.
What meaning do those two words have?
“Thank you” is a response to something done.
“Thank you” is a recognition of the one who did it.
“Thank you” is a receiving of what has been done.
Those Two Little Words
When “thank you” is a prayer, it is a recognition that God exists and that He has done something for me. It is a way of receiving what He has done for me.
What has He done? My philosophy is, If it’s good, it’s from God. If it’s from God, it’s good. I could go on and on about what God has done for me. Chiefly, though, what He has done for me — and you and everyone who’s ever lived — is make a way for each of us to live happily ever after in the life to come.
When we turn to God — whether it’s out of fear or hope or desperation — and we utter those two words, we are responding to His sacrifice and receiving its reward.
That’s more than enough.