Simplifying Gratitude

Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I’m terrible at sending thank-you notes. It’s not that I’m ungrateful or haven’t tried in the past. On many occasions I’ve cleaned out a dresser drawer or a shelf in the mudroom and found half-finished notes I started and discarded: notes for baby showers, birthdays, gifts for my children—all written out but never sent.

It’s not that I don’t feel gratitude. I do. The problem is that I fail to prioritize getting those notes in the mail. I stress out about what the card should say, feel awkward, and fool myself into thinking I’ll return to it later. I don’t have time to hunt for an address label or a stamp, I reason. Saying thank you in person I can do, but a note? That feels extra. And who has time for extra?

The truth is that I have plenty of time to read books or go out for coffee with a friend. I make time for plenty of other activities, but expressing gratitude can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of daily life. Yet we know that it matters when we go out of our way to say thank you to another person. Like dropping off a cozy drink on a cold day, it both heartens and comforts the recipient, reminding them that they are worthy and loved.

I think I’ve sometimes made gratitude too difficult, and I wonder if perhaps you’ve done the same. If so, maybe we need to simplify things. Let’s stick a note on the mirror listing people to thank so we have a visual reminder each time we brush our teeth. Perhaps we could slot in a calendar reminder for five minutes each day to send text messages to thank others. Maybe we need to spend a few minutes prepping a stack of envelopes with a stamp and return address so they’re ready when we need them.

Thankfulness is an outward expression of the internal change in our lives, a reflection of God’s love for us, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Let’s simplify it so that we can focus on truly living it.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Write an overdue thank-you note. Send it right away.