What do you think doctors, surgeons and firefighters would rather hear after they just saved a life?

Question

"Thank you"
or
"Thank god"?

Gratitude is not praise.

kat:
You sort of explained the purpose of me asking this question. I personally understand the significance of expressing gratitude. Unfortunately, most people have no clue on whom to thank for what. If (a) god has done nothing for any one single example of his creations, then he's done nothing for any of them.

Answer 1

"To you and your team, thank you." Life saving is not a one-man show thing, so they would love to be appreciated as a group or team.

Answer 2

I think practically every group of people, being people and all, would like a form of acknowledgement for their help. Even if it's just an eye-to-eye look, a glance of gratitude. Because it's powerful, and it benefits both the giver & receiver --- to say a sincere thank you. It connects us as fellow human beings. In times of crisis, there is an enhanced sense of meaningfulness in the gestures others make just to HELP us, let alone save our life.

The next utterance from me, would be, "Thank God for doctors, firemen, etc., and for putting them in my path." Or hmmmm, were we put in THEIR path?

Gratitude is a gift. There was a recent medical news report on Yahoo. The reporter, some muckety-muck highly educated psychiatrist, had attended a conference on "Happiness". She was expecting to hear a lot of jargon about serotonin and Seasonal Affect Disorder and the internal clock, etc. etc. etc. To her great surprise, the SINGLE most significant concrete thing a person can do to achieve happiness is:

Gratitude. Specifically, at the end of the day, make a point to identify/acknowledge 5 events during the day that went well, and made you feel good. About yourself. You've just tapped into the "emotional" side of the brain, home of the mighty subconcious. Next, write down WHY those things turned out well. (i.e., I was being unselfish, I listened instead of spoke, etc.) You've just tapped into the analytical side of your brain. You've reinforced the feeling by thinking about it. And the brain being the brain, it will seek out those things that have been reinforced. Especially, over time.

Several years ago, during a terribly difficult health crisis which seemingly lasted forever (I've had several), Oprah began a project called a Gratitude Journal. Every day, write down 10 things you're grateful for. (Note the thinking & writing.) That's it. Even on the very worst days, and there were many, I could nonetheless find 10 things to be grateful for. After awhile, I found myself grateful for almost everything......I cried one afternoon thinking about the clean sheets I had and a brand new book. It was a way of coping, sure, but it was more than that. It opened me up to further things to be grateful for.

And I am grateful to God, for that.

Answer 3

Both! My brother is a firefighter and just hearing either one of those words makes his day!

Answer 4

Most "heroic" people have enough humility to know that they do not act alone. It's no small thing to be the instrument of God in saving another person's life.

Answer 5

i think they would like to get a smile or hug instead. thank you is just too shallow words in term of life saved.

Answer 6

Thank you, and Thank God.

Both are great things to say, I would also give them big hugs!

Answer 7

I don't think they really care as long as your check doesn't bounce (for a doctor that is).

Answer 8

Thank you

Answer 9

Good Game, and then a slap on the butt.

Answer 10

If they have any integrity at all they wont want themselves praised for the act of life saving. Glory be or Yeah thank god...though I prefer thanks to the great spirit