In Indonesian, thank you is said with the words “terima kasih,” which literally translate, “receive love.”
Since Indonesian is a very simple language without complex conjugation, one thing I could never figure out is if the word receive was an imperative or a first-person, singular, active verb. In other words, it could be heard as a command or request to the person I want to tell thank you—receive the love I am giving you out of gratitude for what you have done. Alternatively, it could be heard as a description of what I am actively receiving—I receive the love you are giving in the action you are taking. I guess a lack of clarity is actually helpful, for to say thank you is to both express love for the one who has done a wondrous thing and to acknowledge that I have felt loved as the recipient of that wondrous thing.
With that context, I believe that I can speak for all of our church to Debra Haney when I say, “terima kasih!”
Debra, we pray that you may receive the love we have for you for it is born of genuine gratitude and deep appreciation, not only for all you have done but for how you have done it and for who you are. Thank you for taking a risk to move cities and states and come to a place you had never been all on your own. Thank you for bringing your administrative skills and for applying them with exceeding grace. Thank you for caring for us even as you led us. We pray that you may receive the love we have for you today and for many days, weeks and months to come.
We also pray that you know we have received love from you. Your words of encouragement and kindness, your loyalty to the call of Christ and your commitment to our church family, and your sincere prayers and thoughtful actions have all conveyed the love that God has planted within your heart for you to share with us and the world around. All of these gifts have not gone unnoticed but have been received with gratitude.
And in the days and weeks to come may you know that our love for you continues and may be showered by the richest of loves from God, our creator, sustainer, and redeemer.
Grace and Peace,
John
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