Steve needed some help in his college math class

He was struggling and looking for a tutor.  He found Shawanna, who volunteered to help him for the 12-week semester.

Both Shawanna and Steve were also part of a research study.  

In this study, Steve, and other struggling students were given tutors who volunteered to help. At the end of the semester, half of those students, including Steve, were asked to write personal thank you notes to their tutors. Then, the following semester, Shawanna and the other tutors were asked if they would like to volunteer again.

Would the act of being thanked have any impact on their decision?

You bet.

Shawanna and the other students who had been thanked agreed to volunteer again at more than double the rate of those who had not been thanked.

The conclusion of this study, conducted by Adam Grant and Francesco Gino, meant that Steve’s decision to take the time to say thanks may not have been a big deal for him, but it sure was for the next struggling student.

Saying thanks, which is at the heart of this Sunday’s gospel, becomes an act of service that goes far beyond the recipient.

Saying thanks isn’t easy. It takes thought, intention, and action. It can be as small as a text or a thank you note.

Who needs thanking in our lives?

Do we do a good job at it?

How might we do a better one?

It’s not just important for us, but for the next person.