When others help out how can we let them know what they did mattered? How do we show our gratitude? Often times we turn to what can I buy or what should I buy as a thank you.

Well, over the last 10 years of living in a community over 3000 miles from my family I have witnessed some incredible gestures that were very inexpensive to purchase yet priceless to my daughter and me. My previous job had me away from home at least once a month and during this time my daughter Cassie would stay at our friend's house. They had become like family to us, and as a gesture of my appreciation of them opening their home to my daughter, I would take their girls to the movies, to get ice cream and things like this with us.

The first summer after Cassie, then 7 years old, had been staying with them we were leaving from New Hampshire for California for her scheduled time with her dad. When we stopped by to see our friends before we left, Sheri, the mom of this family, gave my daughter a little bag and in it was blank note cards and pre-addressed stamped envelopes for both her house and mine. She thought Cassie might like to write to her girls and to me and had taken the time to prepare something very thoughtful.

This touched my heart. Wow, I had never thought about doing that; what a great idea. Cassie sent every one of those note cards and had a lot of fun doing it.

This year Cassie is a freshman in High School and played on the freshman field hockey team. At the first game it was very hot and muggy. I saw that the girls had gone through all of the water they brought. I ran off to a friend's house that was 5 minutes from the field, picked up an ice chest, ran to Wal-Mart and purchased bottled water and two bags of ice. Total cost was under $10. I went back to the field and pulled the chest over where the girls were. Each one of them seemed happy to have a nice cool drink. There would be many more games, where for less than $6, I could fill the cooler I purchased and bring it to the practice or game. This was a hit.

Giving Gratitude

There are so many small things we can do to show our gratitude. The key here is to be alert. Look around and listen to what people say. You will pick up the best ideas of ways to show your gratitude. Here a few to get you started:

1) Give fresh flowers. With summer here I have flowers in my yard in bloom. Picking flowers from my own garden and bringing them to my friends.

2) Make their favorite dish and drop it off. Being from the southwest I cook a lot of Mexican Food. I have friends that love it, however, don't want to make the effort. When I am cooking for our family I make some extra and take it to a friend as a thank you. This is great for the family who had the carpool this week or for someone who was just there when you needed them.

Around New England, the mosquitoes can be terrible in the summer. While visiting a friend she mentioned she needs to buy some more bug spray. I was headed to the store anyway and picked up a couple bottles for her.

4) Send a handwritten thank you and invite them over for lunch. It is really nice to get something personal in the mail, especially with all the email and texting that has taken its place.

5) Do the unexpected. That may sound quite vague and it is meant to. Think about out of the ordinary acts you can do. Ask if they'd like a ride. Offer to help out if you see them doing something when you are at their house. Simple acts that tell them you are really thankful can make a big impact.

Copyright (c) 2008 Wavelet Productions