Yesterday, we talked about how not comparing ourselves to others can help us cultivate gratitude and contentment. Today, I want to talk about the third thing we can do to live thankful lives: thank others as often and as genuinely as possible.

Say thank you to people, even if they’re supposed to do something for you. Although you may not want to thank your husband when he takes out the trash because he’s supposed to do it, thank him anyway. I promise you, if you show gratitude for his effort, he will do it more often. Similarly, thank your employees when they do what they’re supposed to do, and thank your colleagues when they help you out. Don’t be entitled, but be genuinely thankful and watch how it changes people’s behavior.

Being consistently thankful will open your eyes to good things, and it will attract even more. If you feel like you’re not enough and like you don’t have enough, I say to you that you are God’s beloved and that your future is bright in Him. As a grateful person, you can continually move toward the finish line, planting seeds of thanksgiving along the way and reaping a wonderful harvest of eternal blessing!