“Cheers to you!” An adorable gift of hand-printed cocktail napkins were sent to me by Lemondaisy Design last Christmas. I couldn’t wait to send Leslie, the owner, a photograph of how I used my “monkey business” napkins this year!
The Episcopal girl’s school I attended in Richmond, Virginia, has this motto: “What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own.” Giving gratitude is one of life’s most important goals; do you agree? So, besides a handwritten note, make an effort to show or comment on how you use or will use the gift, what joy it brings to you, or why it is so meaningful to you. This will translate into a meaningful, heartfelt level of sincere gratitude to the gift-giver.
On my website, I have several MMM titles about “how to write a thank-you note.” But the topic today is how to recognize gifts beyond the required, de rigueur, thank-you note. A further gesture of thanks, especially for those especially appreciated gifts, is to acknowledge them in another way, at another time. It is a gentle gesture to share how much you appreciate the effort the giver invested in selecting the gift that they thought would delight you.
An additional “nod of gratitude” tends to inspire the gift-giver to want to give even more. This is not the reason to go the extra mile with an additional thank you, though! Tantamount to a child who repeatedly thanks you for a homemade cookie, it is natural to be inspired to offer them yet another cookie simply because you feel their genuine gratitude and happiness.
Christmas Day, a few years ago! As my darling daughter, Alexandra, opened gifts, she added the ribbon to her attire. This photograph captures her joy and gratitude to her ‘oh, so generous grandmother’ who elegantly wraps presents in fabulous ribbons!
When you receive the gift of clothing, make an effort to wear the item when you know you will be seeing the person who gave it to you. Our daughters make a point of wearing the jewelry my husband and I have given them when they visit (smart move!). When I hear that they have used my recipe from the tried-and-true cookbook I created for them last Christmas, I feel so honored. The noble effort of a friend who sent a photograph of the book I sent her while on holiday, at the beach, made me smile, and the voice message I received from a relative commenting on how her dinner party guests adored the cocktail napkins we sent, gave me great pleasure. It does not take much to simply remark how much you appreciate a gift as you use it. It goes a long way on to the person who sent the gift to you.
A dear follower, Molly, sent me this beautiful silver coaster engraved with HH for my birthday, along with the most meaningful note. An Angel hopped on straightaway, to see her charming reflection, which I shared with Molly.
I thank YOU, dear subscribers! Because of your efforts to inspire others to sign up for Mummy’s Monday Manners, we now have a readily growing international audience!
A sincere thank you to my dear SPONSORS too! Oh, how grateful I am to our celebrated and stupendously esteemed sponsors who collaborated during challenging 2020. Your distinctive brands are truly noteworthy! Take a peek... ALL of my sponsors for 2020 are listed below, and discover a few secret discount codes. Click on the logos and shop away! A gift to you!