In keeping with this week's acts of kindness theme of giving thanks, I would like to direct you to a fabulous article by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz titled Hakaras HaTov—Gratitude at the 5 Towns Jewish Times.
Here is one excerpt which shows the beauty of the Hebrew language.
Rav Hutner points out that the Hebrew word for “thanksgiving” (hoda’ah) is identical to the Hebrew word for “admitting.” This is so because the ability of a person to offer thanks is commensurate with his willingness to admit and acknowledge that he is incomplete and requires the help of others. For a person to say “thank you” he must acknowledge that he needs somebody else. This is why it is so difficult sometimes to thank people; it is difficult for us to acknowledge and admit that we are not complete. The more we are indebted to someone, the more difficult it is to thank that person, because thanking him properly exposes the depth of our own vulnerability.
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