I can hardly believe it… Thanksgiving is just a week away.

I don’t know about you, but the holiday season always gives me warm fuzzies and makes me so much more aware of all the gifts God has given me. Maybe it’s all the cookies and hot chocolate, maybe it’s so much intentional time with family and friends, or maybe it’s both. I don’t know. But I’m feeling so thankful in this season of life.

I’m thankful for a job that I love, for the cozy little apartment we get to call home, for a sweet dog who always gives the warmest greetings. I’m thankful for dear friends who live far away, and yet we can always pick up right where we left off when we’re together again. I’m thankful for not just one family, but two families who love and support us in all that we do. I’m thankful for this new blogging adventure, and all the encouragement I’ve received as I’ve made so many connections with sisters in Christ all over the world. I’m thankful for Jesus, always my number one, and for all He’s done and all He’s yet to do in our lives.

And, of course, I’m thankful for Seth. I’m thankful for a husband who loves so well and cares so deeply. I’m thankful for a husband who always directs my gaze back to Jesus on the days I’m struggling. I’m thankful for a husband who loves laughter, adventure, and spending time with me.

But I know I don’t thank him enough.

Honestly, I’m not sure I ever could thank him enough for all he’s done for me. I could write a thousand letters, and I’d still have more to say about how grateful I am to be married to a man like Seth.

Now I know Seth’s not perfect. No one is. But he’s mine. And he is, without a doubt, one of God’s biggest blessings in my life.

So, I want to be more intentional about showing gratitude in my relationship with Seth, and in all my other relationships as well. I want to be more thankful in my relationships with friends, family, coworkers, and even acquaintances who’ve impacted me in some way. I want to be more thankful in my relationship with Jesus.

Here are six ways you can show more gratitude in your relationships as well.

1. Write a letter.

Quality time is my love languages, but words are my gift and words are my go-to. I love writing Seth letters, and I’ve been writing him letters ever since we started dating.

But letters don’t have to just be for special occasions. They don’t even have to be long.

Here’s an easy challenge for you for this week: jot down a few words about why you are thankful for someone you love. Then give it to them. Let them know how thankful you are that they are in your life.

2. Return the favor.

Seth has a beautiful servant’s heart, and he serves me well in so many ways. He’s generous with his time and his energy.

Two things he does consistently that mean a lot to me are washing the dishes and taking out the trash. I’m not a big fan of either of those tasks (and I feel like every time I take out the trash, I end up wearing some of it), and Seth knows that. So he does them.

If I return the favor, I’m showing him that I recognize the work he’s done for me, I don’t take it for granted, and I’m thankful.

Returning the favor is an easy way to show gratitude that doesn’t even require words.

3. Get him a gift that reminds you of him.

Seth loves sour patch kids, sour gummy worms, sour skittles… basically, any sour gummy candy. Sometimes when I’m shopping, I’ll grab him a little bag of candy just to let him know that I was thinking of him in my daily routine.

If you show him that you think of him often, he’ll feel more loved, more needed, and he’ll sense that you are grateful for his presence in your life.

4. Give him a night off.

I can tell when Seth’s having a long week. He’s such a hard worker, and that mentality doesn’t stop when he’s done working for the day. He’s so good at caring for me and loving me and helping out around the house, even when he’s exhausted.

A good way to show your man that you recognize all he does and you are thankful for him is to give him the night off. Make him supper. Give him a back rub. Let him watch his favorite shows or play his favorite games.

Make it his night, and tell him that he deserves a break because of all he does for you and for your family.

5. Leave lots of sticky notes.

When you think of a reason you are grateful for your person, write it on a sticky note. Then put it somewhere you know he’ll find it later.

Put sticky notes on his work laptop, in his lunchbox, on his pillow, on his desk, on the places you know he’ll see it.

Leave them in places he’ll see right away, and in places he won’t see for a while. This is a great way to constantly remind him how thankful you are for him.

6. Just tell him!

Tell him, and tell him often!

I’m not always a very verbal person. And especially after a long day of teaching, I don’t always feel like talking. But Seth’s love language is words of affirmation, and I know that telling him I’m thankful for him (and why) means a lot.

And never forget… you are onederfully created.

Love,
Becca