As a child, whenever I received a gift from someone, my mother would sit me down with pen and paper and ask me to write a thank-you note to the person. She taught me that people feel valued when their efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. God’s Word tells us that this kind of expression of gratitude isn’t just for when someone gives us a gift.
I Thessalonians 5:18:
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
We can express our thankfulness in many situations, including at work. When we express our thankfulness to and for others, we demonstrate God’s love.
The Apostle Paul excelled at demonstrating God’s love in writing. In letters to various churches in the first century, he often expressed his thankfulness for the people who stood with him.
Philippians 1:3:
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
Ephesians 1:16:
Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.
People like to be appreciated. You can see it as their eyes light up when they receive a compliment or when they are thanked for something they did. We like to know that we are valued for who we are and for the efforts we make. God values us that way, and He never hesitates to let us know that He loves us unconditionally and appreciates the things we do for Him.
Romans 8:38,39:
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hebrews 6:10:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
We can show God’s style of love in our workplaces by communicating our gratitude to coworkers, managers, employees, and others we come in contact with. For these people, we might be their only opportunity to experience God’s love at work.
I John 4:11:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
We can show our appreciation in writing. Like the Apostle Paul, whose letters expressed gratitude for the believers, we too can express our gratitude by our written words. A written thank-you has several benefits:
- The recipient can save a note or e-mail until they can give full attention to the message. A verbal thank-you, though welcome, can be less impactful if the person being thanked is distracted by something else, and it can be difficult later to bring the exact words to mind.
- A written note or e-mail can be read again and again. If it is meaningful, it can lift someone’s mood when they are feeling challenged.
- A handwritten note shows that you cared enough to take the time to think through and write a note to bless them.
In addition, there are other ways to bring our expressions of gratitude to the workplace:
- Look for things to compliment about the people you work with. Positive feedback can make the difference between a good day and a bad day for someone.
- Bring a treat to work for coworkers. Whether homemade or store-bought, a special treat says, “I was thinking about you.”
- Ask coworkers when their birthdays are and recognize birthdays with a card or a note. I used to work with a wonderful woman who gave a homemade miniloaf of sweet bread to every employee in the company on their birthday!
- Other people do things that assist you in your job. Thank them for their help.
Expressing God’s love through our gratitude can have a powerful impact on someone’s life. Why wait until an associate is leaving for a new job, new location, or a new phase of life to tell them that you appreciate them? Show them God’s love now!