When I grew up during the good old days in the 50s -- that's the 1950s, not the 1850s -- the words "thank you" were an intricate part of our lives. They were two words used sincerely and often, unlike today when the two words used most often are "give me."

As a child, if someone gave us something, our parents would remind us to say "Thank you." We used it so often it became second nature to us as did "Yes sir" and "Yes ma'm." I'm reminded of a story brother Guido told. "This little boy and his mom were walking along and a street vendor handed the boy an orange. His mom asked him what he was supposed to tell the man and he raised the orange and said very loudly, 'Peel it!'"

These two precious words -- "thank you" -- are vanishing. Think about it. How often do you go into a store, especially the convenience stores, and spend your hard-earned money and they hardly ever say "Thank you." Come on now. Most look at you like they've done you a great big favor like they are the only one in town and there's one on every corner and they mumble, "Have a nice day," as if they don't care if you do or don't. Some are like programmed robots, unlike the day when the old gentleman at the country store would say no matter how much you spent, "Thank you and you be coming back now, you hear!"

It reminds me of the fellow that went up north and walked into a store and said, "Give me a hamburger and a milkshake," and the man said, "Sir, this is a hardware store!" He was used to the "got everything stores back home." Then he went to a store and bought a pack of Juicy Fruit gum and handed the man a five dollar bill and the man got angry and said, "You mean to tell me that you give ah me ah a ah five ah dollar bill for one ah pack ah chewing gum." He came back home quick and when he got down south he bought a pack of gum from the old general store. He handed the old man a five dollar bill and the man made the change, put the gum in a sack and said with a big smile on his face, "Thank you sir and be coming back now, you hear!"

I travel a lot and I can tell you that those two little words are becoming extinct, but it's just another sign of the times because the Bible says that in the last days people would be unthankful, heady high minded, lovers of pleasure, rather than God.

That time is now. Can you say amen?