‘Yours sincerely’ is a term we often use when ending a letter. Since it forms part of a format, it is added on mechanically and without much thought.
Nevertheless the phrase cannot be considered a mere convention. It has much relevance, purpose and meaning.
What does the word ‘sincere’ mean? The dictionary points to its interesting history. The word arises from two roots. One of them is ‘sine’ which translated from Latin means, ‘without’; the other is ‘cira’ which means ‘wax’. So ‘sincerely’ means ‘without wax’.
When a Roman carpenter made a good table, his work was ‘sincere’, that is, it had no cracks or holes that had been filled up with wax. The product was exactly what it appeared to be – made of good wood and a piece of great workmanship. It follows that the word ‘sincere’ is synonymous with ‘genuine’.
A sincere person is one who can be relied upon. A piece of work done by him is not only complete but will also stand the test of time. Volumes have been written about how to make friends, influence people and thus attain success in life. ‘Sincerity’, one might say, is a word that encompasses them all.
If you are sincere in what you do, it can take you not only to the pinnacle of success, but also right into the hearts of people. Recall the doctor, for instance, who treated you with concern, care and sympathy. He will be the man you turn to whenever you fall ill.
You willingly become the client of the grocer, plumber, tailor or any other service-provider who does his job with sincerity and turns in a fine piece of work. On the other hand, you will not only drop a cheat but also warn your friends of his devious ways.
It is not easy to be sincere. It often means hard work, long hours and modest returns. The rewards are mostly invisible to the eye, being mental and spiritual in nature. One can enumerate them briefly. The sincere person is one who has put in his best.
He therefore enjoys peace of mind. He needs to fear no one, because his conscience is clear. Devoted to results, he remains a learner, alive to change and progress all through his life. He never lacks friends because he is trustworthy and dependable. The one who is insincere treads on slippery ground for his actions can rebound on him.
The following story illustrates this well. A house-builder was deeply in debt and lost all he owned. He was in danger of finding himself on the streets. A kind and sympathetic friend gave him a contract to build a house. He told him exactly how he wanted it to be and wanted only the very best materials to be used. He then went away on an extended trip.
The house-builder went to work, but instead of putting in costly material, used the inferior kind wherever it was possible. He hoped to make for himself a lot of money. When the owner returned, the builder told him that the house was ready.
“How wonderful,’ he exclaimed. ‘Now I wish to tell you, my dear friend, that you built this house for yourself. I am happy that I am able to gift it to you!’