Ways to thank the military (and their families) for their service

The 4th of July should be a reminder of the sacrifices that our military families make and a time to honor them. Saying thanks doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money, but it is worth doing and does make a big difference to those that serve.

My husband doesn’t often go out in his uniform, but we do love meeting him for lunch so he will be in his uniform then and that is when people say thanks for serving. It is so kind when they do, and it is always appreciated. We have had meals bought for us and people stop by the table to shake his hand (not as common these days, but never a good plan since we are eating and now must get up to wash hands) and we even had a little girl give a drawing to our daughter that said thanks for your service which was so touching. There are so many ways to say thanks and it means so much to our families when someone takes the time to acknowledge the sacrifice and care. Here is a list to get started.

• Consider finding a few military families in your community to bring into your circle. What could you invite them to? A book club, moms’ group, church event or a barbeque at your house? Loneliness and longing to belong is a real concern for our military families so this will go a long way to helping them feel part of the community.
• Mail a card to a military family to let them know you care. I once got a card while my husband was deployed from a friend far away. She included a little quote to hang up to keep me going through the deployment and a gift card for coffee which was a sweet touch. Personal mail is a nice gesture that while simple leaves a big impact.
• Have a meal delivered or make a meal for a military spouse, send flowers, give an inspirational book, or leave a thoughtful gift on the doorstep. A lot of military wives are lonely and without family so these small gestures really do go a long way.
• Offer childcare or a playdate. Have your kids create something for a child whose parent is deployed. Find ways to include military kids in community events. Invite them to tea/coffee. Get to know them and spend time with them. Buying someone a cup of coffee can go a long way, but investing time goes even further.
• If you own a business, you could offer a special discount. I have a tea business and offer 10% off for military families. It could be one day a month or a bonus offer. Make it work for your business, but this a thoughtful way to say thanks.
• Anonymously pay for a meal for a service member. When you see a service member or family out in uniform surprise them and buy their meal. This is such a fun surprise and something they will remember.
• Be creative! If you are an artist, give art for example. And if you are a good cook then give a meal.
  

It could be as simple as dropping off some freshly baked cookies to a neighbor who is serving. These gestures can make a difference and are a simple way to say thanks!

It doesn’t matter how we say thanks, but it does matter that we do say thanks. Our military and their families make a huge sacrifice with moves, missed holidays, time apart, and constant change, so since they sacrifice so much a little thanks should be the least we do.

As CEO for Inspirational Inc. and founder of “Tea With Chantel” trainings & workshops, Chantel Mathson inspires women to live with purpose and build thriving community. She has traveled all over the U.S. and Canada, speaking and inspiring others to become impact makers. Chantel has been a featured speaker at NASA Space Center, The University of Notre Dame and numerous national conferences. She is a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, blogger, bible teacher, military spouse mentor, author, and professor of communications. Chantel shares her heart and home with her husband, three kids and two dogs in California. As a Military spouse she has moved twelve times and has a heart for helping military wives connect, find their purpose, and create community. Her Tea with Chantel business evolved as she moved across the country and had to create new community herself. She is always ready to share a cup of tea and would love to connect… FB/Twitter/Linkedin/IG @teawithchantel or Instagram.com/teawithmilitarywives and teawithchantel.com

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