Tell them thank you

I am very thankful for my life.  I am blessed to live in a nice house, nice neighborhood, and a nice community.  I have an awesome husband and amazing children.  I am thankful.  However, how often do we thank those who do make an impact on our lives?  I mean I thank God, as I should for all he does for me.  However, until this past year I feel like I have held back giving out thanks to others.  I don't know if it was part of my "wall" to not let others in or if I assumed those who had blessed me knew I was thankful.  Maybe I did express thanks to some and just not others.  So what changed in the past year that got me to really think about this expressing thankfulness stuff??  Well a year ago today the world lost a pretty amazing man.  He was a helper in my youth group growing up.  He was the guy that was always smiling...not a little smile a light up the room smile.  When I heard he had been diagnosed with Leukemia my heart sank.  I hadn't spoken to him in probably 10 years but I remember the impact he had on me.  Yes, I remember he  had that smile and always had plenty of gum for everyone but there was one time he said something to me and I don't even know if I realized it at the time how much it would affect me.  I think we had a youth meeting at his house or something and I think he overheard me mouthing about something (shocking I know), he just pulled me aside and all he said was "You are better than that".  It doesn't sound like much right.  However if you grew up the way I did, where I did...knowing that no one expected anything great from you.  Someone stopping to tell you that you were better then what you were putting out there might just make an impact on you.  I still remember it like it was yesterday.  He said it, tilted his head forward as to let me know he meant it then smiled that big beaming smile and said Ok....  In the church, they always talk about "planting seeds" that even if you don't see someone come to Christ something you say now may impact them later on down the road.  Thinking back I believe that was the first time anyone said something like that to me...he expected more because I was worth more.  I never told him the impact that had on me.  I never thanked him for the change it made in me.  When he was diagnosed, I really wanted to tell him but I felt silly and I didn't want to intrude during a time like that.  Like I said it had been 10 years probably since we had spoken.  I guess I thought there would be more time.  I find peace in knowing I'll thank him in heaven.  The lesson I took away from all of this was to not wait.  To let people know that your thankful for them, let them know when their words or actions change your world for the better.  So I may come off sappy sometimes but I'd rather be a thankful sap then a regretful one.