#263: Peanut Butter (Friday, January 13)

"Howdy an tenk yuh nuh bruk square." -Jamaican proverb

(To say hello and thank you doesn't require much effort.)

Over the holidays, I was looking for a soup kitchen or a food pantry to volunteer at on Christmas day. Unbelievably, most of the places I checked didn't have any volunteer opportunities; some had more volunteers than they could use. One of the pantries I called, the director said, "We don't need any volunteers, but we could use some peanut butter."

I thought it was an odd request then I did some research and found out that for many food pantries, peanut butter is an essential item. It's a great source of protein for children, doesn't spoil and can feed many people cheaply. But there's a peanut butter shortage, so many pantries can no longer afford to stock this item.

I think a "thank you" is a lot like peanut butter--essential to every day life, but can oftentimes be very scarce. Sometimes we think it, but forget to articulate it; we take it for granted that the intended recipient knows that we're thankful. Other times, it's not even a consideration. But nothing is too small to deserve a thank you, and it's never too late to give one. 

A thank you is thoughtful way to acknowledge a kindness. Whether you say it in person, call or send a note, just remember it in your every day life.