Over time thank you can become a polite habit, a scripted response. Often the words thankful and grateful are used interchangeably. And in many ways, they represent the same idea. Yet these words are not the same; there is a subtle difference. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, thanks is an expression of gratitude, and gratitude is the state of being grateful or thankful. An expression is an act or a symbol, whereas the state of being represents something that exists or is an ongoing condition. To put this idea into context, when we hear a phrase like “Give Thanks,” it speaks of an outward expression of an inner posture of gratitude. We give thanks because we are grateful.
Last week, we talked about living a life of gratitude in our ordinary everyday lives. As we enter the Thanksgiving season, I have been reflecting on the connection between Gratitude, Thanks, and Giving. Let’s consider this: If Gratitude is the work we are doing inwardly, then Thanks is the natural expression that flows from our gratitude. Yes, I can simply say the words Thank You as an act of kindness and not feel gratitude. Yet when we start with gratitude, the thanks becomes a genuine outpouring of what is in our hearts.
If Gratitude is the work we are doing inwardly, then Thanks is the natural expression that flows from our gratitude.
This year has found many of us struggling to be thankful. It may be easier to acknowledge another person’s act of kindness, which is an excellent place to start. When we intentionally practice being thankful, we often find we begin to feel genuine gratitude; these two things are intertwined.
Deliberately practicing habits of giving thanks and noticing gifts changes us from the inside out.
What are some practical ways we can practice giving thanks and renew our hearts towards feelings of gratitude?
- Counting Blessings – November is a month focused on being thankful. This year I am counting my blessings on Facebook and Instagram with #novembercountingblessings. Using my phone to capture all the moments makes me pause and notice what is right in each day. I would love to have you join me, but if that’s not your thing, find a way to pause and notice your blessings over the next couple of weeks. You might just find it carries over as a regular habit beyond this season of Thanksgiving.
- Write Thank You Notes – Let’s be honest; some of us have already had family pictures taken and are planning for Christmas Card season. Some of us will last-minute throw something together to send out, and others of us will post a “Wish you a Merry Christmas” Facebook photo. Yet how many of us have paused to think about sending out Thanksgiving Cards? It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Last year I bought some cards at the dollar store and made a basket with pens and stamps to sit on the kitchen counter. Throughout the month and even into December, we could grab a card, write a note and place it in the mail. As someone comes to mind or is on your heart, pause a moment, and write them a message. It’s a gift for them, and you’ll find it encourages your own heart.
- Gratitude journaling – I’ve shared about Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts, and many other resources have proven the benefits of writing out the things you are thankful for, the gifts, the blessings in your life. Keeping a journal and naming the things you are grateful for is a beautiful reminder of all that is good, even on the hardest of days.
- Make it a Family Affair – Some families take time to talk about the days’ highlights and even what has been challenging in the day. Family conversations often bring us perspective. As parents, it can be eye-opening to discover the things that have mattered in your child’s day. What they walk away with from a situation can be different than what you expect. These conversations also help us encourage our kids to name the hard things, not ignore them, but also to process beyond “it’s hard.” To see and count the blessings.
If Gratitude is our inward posture and we consider Thanks the outward expression of gratitude; then Giving is the overflow of a grateful heart and expression of thankfulness. Why do people who have less tend to give more? Join me next week as we follow this reflection from Thanks to Giving.
Want to read more about thanks and gratitude: here are a few articles I have read.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2016/11/23/difference-between-thank-you-and-gratitude
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
