How do you show your gratitude?

Good Morning!  I must say that I am extremely 'thankful' today.  Today is our 8th day of vacation.  I love our vacation every year and this year is no exception.  As I was thinking about what to write for my Thankful Thursday post, I began to think about different ways to show being thankful versus just being thankful.  A synonym for the word thankful is grateful.  The definition of grateful is to be warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; to be thankful.  So I was exploring ways to show being grateful.  Below is a list of what I came up with.  I hope that you find something on the list to spark within you a desire to show your that you are thankful [or grateful] to those around you.

1.  MEAN IT WHEN YOU SAY 'THANKS'
Sincerity is half the battle when it comes to gratitude.  If you are really grateful, it should be natural to express  that gratitude.  One way to quickly check your gratitude is to ask yourself, "Am I really grateful? Am I showing gratitude for the right reasons?"   

2.  BE SPECIFIC ABOUT YOUR THANKFULNESS
Details matter.  Sometimes it is hard to articulate what you're grateful for.  Try this...with a pad and pen, make a list all the specific things you're grateful for.  Once you see a list, it will be easier for you to be specific about your thankfulness.

3.  GIVE THANKS FOR RESULTS
Did someone do something to increase your self-esteem or make you feel valuable?  When you see the effort someone else makes in lifting you up, you need to give thanks for their effort and not let that effort go unrealized.  They see value in you...you need to see value in yourself and be thankful that someone else sees it.

4.  SHOW GRATITUDE WITH A GIFT
Size doesn't matter.  It is your appreciation for the gesture that matters.  Make the gift small and personal.  Do some research and find out what the person likes, what they already have and what they wish they had.    

4.  MAKE PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF GRATITUDEDon't go overboard, but showing gratitude to someone in front of others may show the person that you truly are thankful for their kindness.  Think of ways to publicly thank them.

5.  MAKE GRATITUDE A SURPRISE
Since some people don't like surprise parties , why not try an "out of the blue" thank you.  When someone does something that is edifying to you, they don't normally 'expect' a thank you.  Giving them a 'public' thank you, involving others in the thank you, is often icing on the cake,

I know for me personally, when I do something 'nice' for someone else, it is normally done as a form of ministry and I do not expect a thank you.  However, when an unexpected thank you is given, it is enough to make me know that I am doing what I should be doing.

I pray that I always show gratitude when it is due.  I never want to let a 'good deed' go unnoticed.  It is discouraging to the giver when their offers of kindness are not noticed and acknowledged in some way.  How do YOU show your gratitude?

Have a great day,