You can practice being thankful by giving thanks to survivors. What do you appreciate about them? What do they contribute to your church, your community, or your family?

It’s always important to be genuine and sincere, but above all when you’re thanking a survivor you cannot be hypocritical or artificial. Speaking as a survivor, I can say that most of us have dealt with far too much “affection” that was fake and manipulative. People often thanked us to get something from us. When you thank us, be sure it’s real.

Tip: If you can’t think of anything to thank a survivor for – if you see nothing that this person contributes – then start praying before you say anything else. Each person matters, every single person can give something; ask God to help you see us clearly so you can speak sincerely when you say “Thank you.”

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash.com