Letter: Complete the gift cycle with a thank you

Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

We are in a gift-giving and receiving time. And I hope all those who received gifts will remember to say thank you in some way to the givers. It is usually the children who forget but adults do so as well.

Someone gives a gift out of love. But when the recipient doesn't let the other person know he got the gift, the giver is not sure whether the gift got there, and the giver might feel forgotten or neglected, as if his gift were not important.

I was raised with constant reminders to send a thank you for a gift. I could not get away from doing it, yet today it seems this thoughtful behavior is no longer taught or is forgotten. It is easy to pick up a phone or send a letter or an e-mail and say how much you appreciated the gift given to you. The other person, whether it's a friend or a family member, such as a grandmother, would love to hear from you.

It is very important for parents to teach their children the importance of thank yous and it is very important for adults to remember to say thanks for a gift received. It is an act of disrespect to forget. We have become too selfish or lazy in our ways.

Let's make this a great holiday season and remember to complete the gift cycle with that thank you. The words "thank you" are truly wonderful words. "Thank yous," along with their cousin "Sorry," will go a long way to preserving peace among people. And isn't that what this holiday season is all about? Oh, and by the way, thank you for reading this letter.

Robert Kaye, Las Vegas