When Words Fail Us

Thou shoulds't not have been old till thou hadst been wise
--King Lear

As children receiving a gift, our mothers were quick to fill the characteristic silence with "What do you say?" Prompted, we remembered: Thank you.

When we age (but don't necessarily mature) and happenings leave us speechless, could it be that we have just received a gift, and that the right response is "Thank you"?