Thank You! (a coupon code and FREE printable)

I think I’m pretty good at being overwhelmed with gratitude when we are blatantly blessed by the service of those who love us.  I’m not sure I’m very good at expressing that gratitude.  I never know what to say or do.  Thank you cards?  No amount of saying thank you ever seems like enough.

We were shown an incredible amount of love this week by a group of women who I’ve come in contact with by the sheer grace of God.  These women came into my life when I thought my marriage was ending.  They listened to me.  They held space for me.  They helped me start to realize that I am valuable and loved.  They are my best friends and trusted confidants.  I can be honest with them.  I can be raw and real and laugh with them.  I’ve learned so many valuable lessons from them.

And because of them we had a Thanksgiving dinner show up at our door.  I came home to a Christmas tree on our front porch yesterday and they made it possible for us to fulfill our kids’ small Christmas lists.  Blessings don’t always come in the form of food and gifts, but this time they did.  And it felt amazing and awkward.  Because, I immediately started to tell myself “I don’t deserve this.  There are certainly others who could use it more!”  But before those thoughts took up too much space in my heart a different one came in…

It is more blessed to give than it is to receive.

I’ve heard that phrase many times.  And I’ve always loved being on the giving end of it.  But the minute the “I’m not good enoughs” started to creep in I pushed them away with this thought…it’s just as important to be a giving receiver.  A receiver who is full of gratitude and humility and love.  A receiver who is excited and happy.  A receiver willing to give back what they can and send as much love and light into the world as possible.

The phrase started to take on new meaning as I turned it round and round.  I am both right now.  I am the receiver and I am so full of gratitude that I am able to give more love to those around me.  One of my favorite authors Brene Brown puts it this way:

“Love is… something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.”

Giving and receiving is just that…love being cultivated.  And it requires me to sit gracefully on both sides.  It requires me to be able to love myself enough to accept love from others.  It requires me to share love and nurture it and cultivate it with others.

I would say, It is most blessed to give and to receive.  It keeps us connected.

With that thought, I created this free 8×10 printable.  To keep the love going round and round (and because I was dying to draw something fun and Christmasy).  I also want to offer 50% off in my etsy shop from now until December 14th with the code “MERRYANDBRIGHT”.  Enjoy the holidays friends.  And may you be blessed both to give and to receive.