Imagine with me. It’s the holiday season and you’ve decided to make it extra special for your family and friends. You take time to consider a unique and personal Christmas gift for each one. You make a detailed list, asking for suggestions, brainstorming ideas and wandering through your favorite stores. While watching for sales and keeping within your budget, purchases are made. You carefully ensure that children and grandchildren will receive gifts of equal value. A quiet afternoon is spent praying for each person by name while creatively wrapping and labeling the gifts, incorporating this year’s decorating trends. Gifts are placed under the tree. You eagerly anticipate the joy that each gift will bring to your loved ones!
But wait! Now imagine those gifts sitting under the tree, but never actually given to the receiver. What a waste! Not only will the receiver not benefit from the gift, but they may actually feel hurt, neglected or offended.
Quoted writer William Arthur Ward wrote, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
The Hebrew term for gratitude means “recognizing the good”. Expressing gratitude takes initiative. It must be intentional. It is a discipline that must be practiced, and it brings great joy. As followers of Christ, we are to express thanks to God and others.
What are some creative ways we can express gratitude to people in our lives?
Tell them
Consistently expressing thanks verbally is very important, and for casual thanks, an email or digital greeting card is appropriate. But, I’m convinced that a physical, hand-written note in our own words and handwriting is one of the best ways to express thanks. These meaningful notes may serve as keepsakes for years to come. Be specific as to what was said or done on your behalf that makes you grateful. Include a Scripture verse or inspirational quote. For more information on writing thank you notes, check out the article The Thank You Note: A Lost Art.
In a thank you note, consider including a bookmark or something of meaning in the envelope. A photo of yourself using or holding the gift would be nice. Rather than expensive greeting cards, purchase blocks of plain colored note cards with matching envelopes at local discount stores and use a corner rounder or scissors with different edges to personalize the card if you like getting creative.
Share a job well done. When you are on the receiving end of exceptional service or hospitality, make it a point to tell a supervisor or manager about the excellent service you received.
Gift them
Give a small, thoughtful gift with your note. I keep a stash of small gifts at home. When shopping, check out clearance aisles and keep things on hand for those last minute moments when you would like to bless someone. Consider including a gift card to a favorite restaurant or place to shop. A gift card for a cup of coffee or a $5 Sonic card for an afternoon Happy Hour drink is a nice gesture.
Send flowers or pick flowers from your own garden and deliver them. Bundle with pretty ribbon and a free downloaded printable gift tag or hand-written thank you note.
Bring a hostess gift when invited to a home. This may seem old-fashioned, but it doesn’t have to be! A hostess gift can be candy, lotion, a small candle or home-made cookies. Fill a small jar with chocolate hugs and kisses and decorate with a ribbon to show appreciation.
Buy coffee or invite them over for dinner. Next time you’re out with the person, buy them lunch.
Show them
Show off a gift received. Wear the clothes in the giver’s presence, display the gift in your home or on your desk, or make it known you appreciate the gift by using it.
Post a kind social media shout-out to publicly recognize someone. Be specific as to why you are thankful for them. Include a humorous meme or share a photo or video of you together. Be sure to tag them!
Return the favor. Reciprocation is a wonderful thank you. For example, did someone watch your dog while you were on vacation or make you dinner when you were sick? Offer to do the same for them.
Be creative! Whatever your talent or hobby, put it to good use. Do you enjoy hand-lettering, photo books, making a special dessert or craft? Make your thank you gestures unique to you!
This holiday season, I encourage you to pause and notice. Over the past year, who was especially kind to you? Who prayed for you or carried you through a rough season? Who gave wise advice or helped you grow spiritually? Think outside the box and develop a culture of thanks in your home and church.
Ultimately, we recognize God as the One True Benefactor of all good things. He is the giver of all good gifts!
Meet the Author!
Karen serves at the Spiritual Formation Team Coordinator for Council Road. She has been a minister’s wife for nearly 35 years and enjoys supporting and coaching Oklahoma Baptist church planting wives. An award winning blogger, Karen has a passion for encouraging women searching for hope. She and her husband Jimmy have 3 children and 2 grandsons.