The importance of saying thank you

When I was a child, my mother taught me the importance of saying thank you. If someone complimented me at church or school, she said I was to express gratitude for their kind words. When someone gave me a gift for Christmas or my birthday, she would have me write a thank-you note. Saying thank you was important to my mother, and I also came to value that in my life.

Moreover, saying thank you is not only important; it is a Biblical command! The Bible is full of reminders to give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (emphasis mine). As our culture becomes more and more self-centered, saying thank you is a way to differentiate ourselves as believers in Christ from the rest of the world. The rest of the world may have an entitlement mentality, but as Christians, we have experienced the ultimate gift of eternal life. Colossians 2:6-7 reminds us, "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving" (emphasis mine). Having received the gift of Jesus Christ, how can our hearts not fill with gratitude?

It's essential then to express our thanksgiving. I try to practice this in my professional life. I publicly thank my teammates at the BCNE when they go above and beyond their duties as employees. I write hundreds of handwritten thank-you notes every year to donors at the Baptist Foundation. We publicly recognize and thank churches for giving to the BCNE. 

Saying thank you makes people feel appreciated and lets them know you do not take them for granted. It lets them know the gift arrived promptly and tells them that you valued their gift. Saying thank you is just the right thing to do.

So, whether your mother taught you or not, learn to say thank you. Say it verbally to people who are kind to you or do you a favor. Post your gratitude on social media to spread a positive mood in your social circle. Buy a pack of note cards and send thank-you notes to those who need the encouragement that gratitude brings. 


Dr. Terry W. Dorsett serves as the executive director of the Baptist Churches of New England.