Title: Saying Thanks and Beyond: Is Saying Thank You Enough?
Author: Ralph Mosgrove
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4808-4352-3
Genre: Self-Improvement
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

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Ralph and Elsie Mosgrove had a long and loving life together of over 60 years of marriage. At the age of 77, Elsie suffered a traumatic fall, injuring her hip and spine. After surgery, for her remaining six years of her life, she was partially disabled, needing the aid of a walker and having limited mobility. It was during those years in which Ralph observed how people would, at times, show kindness by offering to help Elsie by opening doors, or carrying a package. As a corollary, some people would rush by, avoiding the timing of being confronted with acting generously or making an obvious act of kindness. Ralph Mosgrove describes this dichotomy of positive and negative energy as a ripple effect; when a rock is tossed into water the concentric ripples travel to the edge of the water, then return to the center. He states that good deeds are rewarded; negative thoughts and actions also have their consequences.

Ralph and Elsie each had their decades of their careers, and were looking forward to the “Golden years” of having more time and opportunities for their spiritual involvement with their church. Being a Pastor, Ralph was adept at bringing out subtle behavioral characteristics to the awareness of his congregation. In many ways, reading Saying Thanks and Beyond: Is Saying Thank You Enough? has the elements of a sermon. This rather short, 30 page book can be read in about the time one would expect a pastor to address his audience. He expands on the words, “Thank You” and circles around many various aspects of the root emotion. He explains in his life, thank you was instilled at a young age, and was a frequent expression he began to use respectively in many occasions. Other people, for example, have a “Military” type of way of saying thank you – suggesting at times they are saying it because it is appropriate and perhaps they really don’t feel it. It needs to come from your heart.

These are all interesting epiphanies of his realizations, as we each have our own thoughts on the use of saying thank you. Ralph Mosgrove goes on to make another interesting correlation of the characteristics of kindness, gentleness, and goodness. He expands on each, relating that goodness comes from kindness. These points I found to be very insightful and a good lesson to hear, especially if you concur with those points.

As a tribute to his late wife, Rev. Elsie Louise (Meyer) Mosgrove, Ralph Mosgrove has written his thoughts as, in a way, telling Elsie “Thank You” for all of the love and kindness she has brought into their relationship, and thusly his life. Perhaps his use of generalizations of the terms and conditions of other people’s good deeds are masking his personal desire to announce to the world his loss, love and appreciation he has over his lifetime of thanks to his love. In either case, Saying Thanks and Beyond is a comforting read and a book which can be shared or given as a gift, especially to someone who is suffering from a loss such as his.

Saying Thanks and Beyond is a refreshing reminder that kindness matters, and genuine goodness still exists in this world. The story is well done, filled with acts of unexpected generosity and grace that have stayed with the recipients throughout their lives. In today’s society where we equate connection with ever-increasing technology, it was nice to find a simple true story that illustrates what really matters. If you’re feeling tired, jaded or cynical, pick up this book. It’s truly a welcome respite.

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