Workout: Make Someone Thankful
Do. Share. Give. Listen. Talk. Help. Support. Release. Forgive. Rebuke. Correct. Trust.

Usually, my Thanksgiving thoughts are focused on counting my blessings, being aware of the things I have to be thankful for. I easily could’ve put up a workout that was “Spend 15 minutes listing all the things you have to be thankful for.” This season I’d like to contribute more, consider others more.

I understand that we are not responsible for other’s feelings. I’m totally down with each of us being responsible for our own feelings. No one can change my attitude; they can influence it though. So, the idea of making someone thankful is not one of forcing them to “be happy, damn it! Or else…” It is more to work on making possible, or helping to create an environment of, thankfulness.

What can I do to make that happen?

My list of verbs at the top include some words to get started. What can I do? What can I share or give? Is there someone that would benefit, not from me talking or advising, but just straight up listening to them?

Some things we do might lead to thankfulness – later. Correcting or rebuking someone who is going astray, needing an intervention, is not usually an action that leads to them gushing with praise and thanksgiving for your true love. BUT, in the long run, if you do care, if you do love, you will say the hard things.

Think about the people who are meaningful for you and run that list of verbs through the names. Pray. You’ll know what to do.