Give Thanks with a Thankful Heart

It’s no surprise to you that we are in the month of the thankful heart. Hopefully you’ve started preparing for your big feast. Or maybe you’re thinking about a special host or hostess gift. And I’m certainly hopeful you’re practicing gratitude everyday with a gratitude journal. Today, we’re shifting gears a little bit, and I’m issuing a challenge to you, dear friend. Today I want to encourage you to give thanks – for the people in your life! More than giving thanks for them, let’s give thanks to them. Let’s give thanks with a thankful heart!

It seems to me that in a few short weeks, the ads we see and the commercials we hear will be geared toward gift giving. If we hear the phrase, “makes the perfect gift” once, we’ll hear it a thousand times. Sometimes I feel like gratitude can get a little lost during the gift-giving season. That’s why I like to approach November as the month of the thankful heart and share gratitude freely before the packages and ribbons start to pile up. Ready? Let’s go!

Thankful for Co-workers

It’s easy to take co-workers for granted, isn’t it? They are there with us day in and day out, in the trenches, pushing through deadlines, Q4 madness, migrations, and updates. They cover for us when we’re sick, and they listen to us when we need to vent.

Why not let them know how grateful you are for them? A simple hand-written note of thanks for acts of kindness, support, or partnership would really make their day.

We all know what it feels like to be unappreciated – or to imagine that we are…. Today, I want to encourage you to write a simple note of thanks to a co-worker (or two) just to let them know how much you appreciate them! I promise, you won’t regret it.

Thankful for Neighbors

If you are blessed enough to have good neighbors, you are blessed indeed! November is a perfect time to let them know how much you appreciate them. Maybe they mowed your lawn while you were on vacation. Perhaps they brought a meal when you were sick. Let’s give thanks for our neighbors this month, with a thankful heart!

Leaving a note in a neighbor’s mailbox always feels a little like a sneaky surprise, like I’m leaving a little treat for them. We don’t get enough happy mail these days, if you ask me. It’s all bills, bills, bills and ads for replacement windows!

Why not let your neighbors know how much they mean to you and how blessed you are to share life with them? You don’t need flowery words or expensive gifts. You just need a thankful heart that lets them know how grateful you are for them. I promise, they will be so touched! Who knows? You might start a little thankfulness trend!

Thankful for Friends

Friends…. I think it is so important to give thanks for and to our friends. Friends listen to us when we need a shoulder to cry on. They laugh with us, they pray for us, they support us.

This November, let’s give thanks with a thankful heart to our friends. Again, a little note goes so far when you say, “Thank you for _____________…” or “I’m so thankful you’re in my life! Remember that time we _________?”

If you are unsure of where to begin, here are a few starters to get you going:

“I am grateful for your unwavering friendship.”
“Your smile brightens my day.”
“Thank you for being a dedicated friend / co-worker / neighbor, etc”
“Your positivity is contagious.”
“Thank you for always lifting people up.”
“I am thankful for your gentle spirit.”
“Your encouragement has been a source of strength for me.”

Friends are the flowers in life’s garden, and loving our friends with a kind word is a like giving them a whole bouquet of blessings!

Thankful for Family

Let’s be honest… our families are the ones who see us at our best, and at our worst. They put up with us when we’re sick, tired, and grumpy. Family celebrates with you when you win, and they support you when you lose. This November, why not let them know how much they mean to you? Why not show them your thankful heart with a big gigantic thank you?

Leaving a surprise post it note on a bathroom mirror, in a lunch box, a coat pocket, purse or wallet may be just the surprise a loved one needs to get them through the day. Let them know how much they mean to you, and how thankful you are for them.

Finding the Right Words

Not everyone can sit down and wax poetic at the drop of a hat. You may like the idea of writing a hand-written note, but feel uncertain about your ability to convey the right sentiment. Well, let me put your mind at ease, friend! You don’t need flowery words or poetic phrases. You only need a thankful heart.

But, in case you would like a little encouragement to get you started, here are a few prompts you may find helpful.

“I appreciate you because …”
“I am so thankful that you …”
“Your smile lights up a room! I’m so grateful that you …”
“Your friendship is a blessing to me! I am thankful for you because…”
“Thank you for being such a good …”
“I can’t imagine life without you …”
“Being your neighbor has brought so much joy to my life! Thank you for…”
“Of all the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving season, I am thankful for you because…”

Thankful for YOU

And here, dear friend, is where I pour out my heart of thankfulness for you. I am so glad you stopped by. I hope you have found encouragement and maybe a little inspiration. My sincere hope is that you will give thanks with a thankful heart for those special people in your life. You never know who may be needing a kind word, a note of appreciation, or a heartfelt hello. It is very possible you could change the entire course of someone’s day…or week… A simple act of kindness really can have life-altering effects. But what’s even better is when that single act of kindness inspires another act of kindness, and then another. Before you now it, you’ve changed so many lives – all with one simple thank you.

And so today, I am so thankful for you! I think you’re amazing and I wish you a world of happiness this Thanksgiving season, and in all the seasons to come!