Giving Thanks: Part 2

This is a series on gratitude, check out part i, part iii, and part iv.
Last week, I was talking with a group of moms about accepting help from others. One mom shared that she had family who was extremely generous and always offering to help out, but she felt she was never able to repay the favor. All of us could think of a similar experience - someone has offered to watch the baby, bring over food, or run an errand, but you are hesitant to actually take them up on the offer. Whether it's wanting to do it all yourself, feeling guilty about not being able to repay the favor, or fear that it won't get done the way you would do it, sometimes we all have to accept a helping hand. And when you do, these moms offered some good advice for expressing your gratitude.

Three ways to show gratitude:

1. Simply state it. This sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes it's easier said than done. It can be hard accepting a favor, but many people are happy to help in return for a simple, "Thanks."

2. Pay it back. There are many ways to return a favor - it doesn't have to be a meal for a meal. If you make excellent pumpkin bread, consider giving a loaf as a thank you. Another way to pay it back is offer an open-ended invitation, "When you need something, please call me first." Other nice tokens of appreciation: flowers, a small piece of jewelry, or a gift card.

3. Pay it forward. This was most popular in the mom group. For example, we can't always give our parents as much as they have given us, but we can do the same for our children. And, in my case, I can't repay my sister for all the times she has helped me out, but I try to extend the generosity to those around me.

How do you express your gratitude?

image from Stephanie

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