Two Simple Words

I sat there with the paper in front of me... "Give thanks to..." which was followed by a blank line for who you were to give thanks to and what the reason was. I had filled out one line of who and why but I was scared. I didn't know what good it would really do, but I thought I should anyway. When the time came, my one chance came, I nearly missed it not knowing what good it would do to tell him so I wasted hours contemplating it, why couldn't I just go and say thank you and why did I need to?

The first answer seems obvious, I was not sure what good it would do. I had said many things to him that day and he had responded little to what I had said. I didn't think he would understand what I meant and what I was getting at. So I sat there holding his weak hand praying that maybe this would show him my thanks and love. As time passed I found myself saying, "When we are alone" I knew that could never happen but I pretended that we could be. I realized then that I was scared. I didn't know if he would remember the act, the act that I will always remember. I can never forget it, but what if he had forgotten that day or he just couldn't recall it? By the end of the night, it was time for him to go and I was still sitting there scared. I realize only now, that I had a small thought in my head that told me "it's not worth it." It was a combination of fearing he wouldn't remember and that he wasn't going to respond. How I finally went up to him the moments before he left and took his hand in mine is a blur. I started by asking him if he could remember the day, after 2 times he had not responded to my question by the 3rd he remembered. I told him thank you for the wonderful blessing he had given me and my entire life that day. I knew then why I had to say thank you. He needed to know my love, he needed to know how much effect he has had in my life, and I needed to be reminded how incredibly special that day was, and how he had given it to me.