For the past couple of years I have smoked our Thanksgiving Day turkey and this year will be no different. I will yet again cook the world’s most delicious turkey.
Do you know what I have to do to get the world’s most delicious turkey? I have to brave the crowds at Winco, find room in my fridge to store the bird, thaw it for days, season it with my secret ingredients (I refuse to tell you), prepare my smoker, smoke it, carve it, eat it and boast about it… All of this for an ugly 14-pound bird, it’s five hours of work!
With that in mind let me ask you this, what would happen if you spent that much time and effort letting those around you know how thankful you are for them?
Now I know it would start to get really awkward if you sat in front of someone for five hours saying thank you. But it should make us more mindful. How much time do we actually spend showing our thankfulness?
1 Timothy 2:1-2 urges us, “First of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”
Did you catch that? Our thanksgiving for people is meant to be “first of all.” It’s a practice I for one need to be better at.
Here are five ways to show them you’re thankful:
1. Look them in the eye and smile when you first see them.
There’s something about eye contact accompanied by a smile that lets people know you’re happy they are there. Proverbs 15:13 says, “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart.”
2. Tell them you’re thankful they are there.
No matter what season, event or situation is happening every human being has the same secret desire. They want to be wanted and accepted. Let them know you want them around.
3. Hug them.
Now I realize for some of you that sounds like I just asked you to cut off an arm. But Ecclesiastes 3:5 tells us that there’s “a time to embrace.” Thanksgiving is the perfect time. It can breakdown the walls. Your walls too!
4. Compliment them about something.
Don’t make it about their attire, although that’s nice too. Tell them something you appreciate about their character and who they are. People are dying to hear that!
5. Don’t let them leave without a sincere thank you.
The goodbye is just as important as the hello. It’s almost as if you’re sad to see them go because your time with them is so precious. Always try to make the goodbyes as meaningful as the hellos.
Look up these verse to grow your faith in four minutes or less:
These are five ways to show them you’re thankful. What other ways can you think of?
