the discipline of thanks

I’m convinced more and more that giving a meaningful “thank you” to someone is an art and a discipline. Giving thanks is a discipline because

-it does not come naturally -it requires you to stop and think about someone other than yourself -it requires that you are aware of God’s grace in other people -it needs to be practiced regularly -it glorifies God

I know from my own experience that it takes work to be able to write a thank you card which is specific to that person. I know how to roll out the Christian language so that it sounds like I have thought a lot about it, but I want to be able to speak in specifics, not generalities. So a person has been a blessing to me - why? I need to answer that question and tell that to them, not just stop at the blessing.

I have been surprised at how many things I am thankful for in other people that I had not recognized before. It only takes a little time and thoughtfulness and I have more than enough to write in a card or share to them face to face. I want to discipline myself to be one who not only thanks God, but also thanks people.