It’s November and I’m a bit frustrated with the Thanksgiving displays in stores being taken over by the Christmas displays. I love Christmas, but can’t we please celebrate Thanksgiving first? We need a time to be thankful and express gratitude. Expressing thankfulness and gratitude are therapeutic and restorative.
And we need that…
Enough ranting!
Let’s be grateful!!!!
I’ve been thinking about gratefulness and I’m so excited about the gazillion ideas on the internet on how to express gratefulness……but I think I might be overdoing it a bit! I started a Gratitude journal, hung a Gratitude garland in my kitchen, and have plans for a tablecloth that guests can write on throughout Thanksgiving Day which we can add to each year. Also, I just bought a cute white pumpkin that I want guests to write on with plans to send it home with my son and daughter-in-law for their first Thanksgiving. Maybe I’m going overboard!
What do you think? Can we truly overdo gratefulness? I don’t think so.
Let me ask you – Have you ever been the recipient of a kind act and not made the extra effort to thank the giver? Or conversely, have you experienced the misfortune of not being thanked when you went out of your way to help someone?
Probably, we’ve all experienced both of those scenarios. Just last week, I had a friend present me the opportunity to participate in a photography class that she couldn’t attend, but had registered for. I was thrilled!! I prepared for the class ahead of time, downloaded the suggested apps and made sure I arrived in ample time with my notebook to take copious notes to share all I learned with her! The class was great, and though I loved the class, and learned how to edit photos on my phone (something I’ve always wanted to learn) … I didn’t take the time to thank my sweet friend. As soon as the class was dismissed, I rushed home to babysit for a young couple. While it was a bit of a circus with the three little ones (four years old and under), I certainly could have found a minute to pick up my phone and thank my friend for her generosity. I was grateful, but she didn’t know it… until she texted me and asked. Didn’t I feel like a louse?!
With that in mind, have you noticed sometimes we don’t like to admit we’re hurt when people don’t express their gratitude? Rest assured, even Jesus had an issue with this. In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus healed 10 lepers. Back in bible times, leprosy was a dreadful disease. A diagnosis of leprosy meant you were rejected by friends and family and exiled to a leper colony outside of town with no contact. In this story, ten lepers called out to Jesus as he passed by their colony, asking Him to heal them. How thrilled they must’ve been when Jesus granted their request! Yet, only one leper returned to thank Jesus for what he had done.
Surprisingly (well, it surprised me), Jesus seemed hurt. I think sometimes we think we should “suck it up” and ignore those negative feelings, but Jesus doesn’t. He makes a point to mention that there were nine other lepers that should have thanked him. Thankfulness is important to Jesus – and so it should be important to us.
The footnote in my bible comments that “It is possible to receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit…”
During this time of preparation for Thanksgiving – let’s be that 10th leper that dared to go back and thank Jesus. Let’s take the time to thank those that add to our lives.
Here are some ideas:
- Thank your cashier – for being there, for their smile, for speedy service, for a good attitude
- Thank a friend – for their years of friendship, for the genuine care they exhibit, for their hearts, for their patience with you
- Thank a spouse – for their loyalty, for their dedication, for their patience and forgiveness
- Thank a family member – for their grace, for their love, for the memories you share
Who made the coffee this morning? Who took out the trash? Who locked the doors before you went to bed last night? Who would come to your rescue if you needed them?
Take an extra minute or two to express your heart. As I write this post, I received news of another friend that passed. Let’s make the opportunity to thank those that make our lives a life worth living!
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If you’re a blogger and you’d like to linkup your articles this week please click on the blue button below. Be sure to visit at least two other bloggers and say hello! Let’s use this party to build friendships and encourage one another! Have an amazing week friends!
Jamie@TheMomGene says
THANK A SPOUSE — I really need to be better about this. I thank my husband all the time, but it’s automatic, like “please” and “thank you”, manners instilled from childhood. But I need to put some oomph behind it. Thank YOU for reminding me.
Char says
Oomph! Perfect word. And texting makes it all too easy. Now we just need to do it!
Yvonne Chase says
Thank you for reminding me to say thank you. It’s a daily practice that shocks people sometimes like the man who held the door for me and let me go ahead of him. I thanked him for being a gentleman then I told him his mother raised him well. It was a great moment for both of us. He smiled and so did I. Thank you!
Char says
What a perfect example Yvonne! And you went the extra mile to bless him back! Now that’s what I’m talking about!!!
Michele Morin says
I’m with you on the, “Please, can we celebrate Thanksgiving before being dragged into Christmas?” plea.
And, I do love Christmas, but my heart needs a huge parentheses around the month of November to just focus on giving thanks for all the good, because my prone to wander heart is so easily stuck in focusing on the “needs-improvement” column.
Blessings to you as you also pursue a heart of gratitude.
Char says
Thanks Michele! Gratitude is so healing and don’t we need that?!
Laura @ Fantastically Four says
Love this reminder to give thanks! It’s all to easy to rush ahead to Christmas. I’m joining your linkup for the first time! Excited to have found you. I’m sharing about diabetes today…not my usual topic, but it’s so important to me. Thanks, Char!
Char says
Welcome Laura! I’ll check out your site. Thanks for linking up.
Debbie Putman says
One of my favorite things to do when I attend a sporting event is to make a loop around the stadium and say thank you to the workers: the people at the tunnels checking tickets and politely turning away those in the wrong section, the first responders, those cleaning bathrooms and sweeping up the trash. Their faces are at first leery when I approach, but soon light up with surprise when I shake their hand and tell them I appreciate their making my experience better.
Char says
What a great idea Debbie! I bet you make their day!!
Rachel Lee says
Char, this is my first time here, and I am so thankful to have found you!
I loved your article! I have to say, I’ve never heard this perspective, (about Jesus and the lepers), before. It really resonated with me! Not to mention, I’m a sucker for practicality. I absolutely love the practical ideas you suggested for giving thanks to those around us. Sometimes it’s the little things that go unnoticed most often. It’s easy to take those things for granted, but so important to recognize those in our lives who do the little, everyday mundane things!
Great post!
And THANK YOU for the link up! 😉
Char says
Hi Rachel! Thanks for linking up and reading. I’m super practical too – guess you can tell. Haha! I’m headed your way now..
Marilyn Lesniak says
Thank you for hosting another inspirational party! Enjoy your week.
sue says
amen. Gratitude not expressed is not gratitude (printable of that gem is on my site) – I need to paste it on my forehead.) great post, Char
Char says
I’ll check that out Sue. . Thanks for your encouragement. I appreciate you stopping by each week.
Lisa notes says
What a great question, Char: “Can we truly overdo gratefulness? I don’t think so.” I totally agree with you. You’ve encouraged me to see how many people today I can thank. 🙂
Char says
Good for you Lisa. I’d love to hear about it!
Donna Reidland says
Char, you helped me see the story of the 10 lepers in a new light. Thanks for this timely reminder! Thanks, too, for hosting. Blessings!
Char says
It’s amazing when that happens. Have a great week Donna!
Melissa says
I love the focus on the ten lepers. I hadn’t thought about it in the way you described even though I’ve heard that story so many times. I just love when that happens. New nuggets and tidbits to deepen our understanding! Thank you for the read and insights! I also think your gratitude ideas are great things to strive for all year long!
Char says
Hi Melissa, Thanks for reading! Have a great week!
Susan Evans says
When we are grateful for the good that we have, we suddenly feel happier and our outlook changes.
Char says
So true Susan!
Keisha Russell says
I love all of these, but “thank a cashier” really stuck out to me. I plan to do this ASAP!
Char says
Good for you! Years ago, I thanked a cashier for her friendly disposition and it led to a conversation and then a job (that she had heard about) that I had been praying for!
Sasha Mills says
Yes – this is great. I need to be so much better about thanking others. I feel gratitude but don’t always express it.
Char says
I notice I do the same thing. I need to force my thankfulness and compliments out of my mouth!!
Julie says
Great reminder and tips to practice gratitude!
I didn’t realize you had a linkup party…what day of the week is?
Char says
My linkup runs from Tuesday morning to Saturday evening! Thanks Julie.
Alice Mills says
I try to thank everyone, partly because I hate having gratitude dragged out of me. Often we try to force people to thank us. If they remember, then I know it was really appreciated.
Char says
When someone has to ask if they’re appreciated or their gesture – the gratitude they receive doesn’t come off as sincere. I hate that!
Aryn The Libraryan says
It doesn’t take any time at all, but it means the world sometimes! When you go long periods of time without hearing a thank you, one can change your whole week!
Char says
I agree!! It can make a person’s day!
Kristi says
We can never be too thankful! I appreciate how you pointed out that Jesus was disappointed not more were thankful.
Shiree Burch says
I am really focused on joy as of late. Joy is not possible without gratitude and a thankful heart. Thank you for showing me how showing gratitude in others is important too.
Rachael says
I always try to thank my cashier and service people. I used to work in the service industry and its long hours for little pay and no thanks. Thank YOU for this reminder of how important this is!
Kathleen says
I don’t think we can overdo gratitude either but I do think we need to remember to stretch it out throughout the year and not just on Thanksgiving. I love your idea to have a table cloth we can write on. I might do that next year (I celebrated in October)
Vanessa Jencks says
Interesting little cultural tidbit: it’s actually pretty embarrassing in my host culture if we say thank you too much. In fact, it can look insincere, and we’ve heard our local friends complain about how Americans say thank you all the time but it doesn’t mean anything.
I think this has changed my cultural perspective. I know in the South especially, people say thank you for everything, but now that I live here, I want to give thanks for what is genuinely above and beyond. I also don’t expect to hear thanks as often, and that doesn’t make me upset at all. I hear thanks when people really mean it and when I really have done something unexpected and kind. Instead of saying thanks here, I actually can be exceptionally kind in other ways that mean more. Like cashiers here. They’re embarrassed when I say thanks because they’re doing their job. But if I ask their name, talk to them about their family, it shows a level of kindness that expresses the same level of gratitude. Interesting difference huh?
Char says
I like your focus on being genuine and authentic. Nothing surpasses that wonderful blessing. It’s funny that you wrote because yesterday I got in a conversation with a cashier and commended her on her patience with the previous customer who couldn’t add. Then we talked about her goals and using her gifts, etc.
Thanks for sharing Vanessa. As I read your comment it reminded me of how often people say “I love you” ….
Where are you from?
Ann Mathew says
Wonderfully expressed. Indeed gratitude heals, restores, and revives us. We tend to take a leap from being dull into unexplainable joy!£
heather says
Beautiful reminders, especially during this season. For me, my eyes were really opened to the power of expressing gratitude when I was going through a severe trial, desperate for joy. And I realized that the verse about God giving us peace that surpasses all understanding had a catch … “…with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Expressing gratitude is not just what we do because God deserves it, but because it also protects our hearts, spirit, and faith. God bless you this season!