The Power of Gratitude: How a Simple Thank-You Note Inspired Generosity

Some weekends are busy on the outside; this one has been busy on the inside. I feel like God has been flooding me with one word: Gratitude.

Reviews: Share Trust, Impact, and Integrity

Part of my role at Kulea Childcare Villages is helping our organization get verified and reviewed by trusted nonprofit websites. These sites confirm we are a real, responsible organization and give donors a place to see how we operate and the impact we are having. It is a bit like reading good Yelp reviews, but for charities: people look at transparency, integrity, and whether those we serve feel respected and cared for.

Reviewing a Nonprofit

One platform I work with is GreatNonprofits. They focus on real stories and reviews from people who have seen the work firsthand—families we serve, volunteers, staff, and supporters. When Kulea Childcare Villages (Kulea Villages) has strong, honest reviews there, it becomes a kind of public word-of-mouth. It shows that our work is meaningful and that people experience us as trustworthy and kind.

Recently, while working on verifications for this year, I realized that one of the best ways to invite reviews was also one of the most personal: a simple thank you. We have visitors at our Kulea Childcare Villages location in Dar es Salaam throughout the year, so I asked our Executive Director, Deborah Magaya, to send me their names and emails. My plan was straightforward: write them a thank-you note for coming, include our recent newsletter, and share a link to our GreatNonprofits page in case they wanted to leave a review. (Click image to link to GreatNonprofits)

Mother Knows Best

That idea came from a very old place in my life. I grew up before cell phones and personal computers, and my mom taught me that one of the best things we can do in life is say thank you. She showed me that a thank-you note is more than a formality. It shows appreciation, follow-up, and a willingness to stay connected. When I was in high school, looking for my first jobs, she helped me learn how to write a cover letter and a resume, and then she insisted I follow up on interviews with a handwritten thank-you note.

At the time, I did it mostly because she told me to. But years later, during my first “real” job search, that habit changed my life. I interviewed for a position that I really wanted, and afterward I sent a thank-you note to the woman who would become my supervisor. Months into the job, she told me the truth: she had thought I was too young and had offered the job to someone else. That person never showed up on their first day, so she turned to me as her second choice. The reason she called me back was my thank-you note. She said it stood out to her and reminded her of my character—and she later told me I became one of the best employees she ever had.

Saying: Thank You, Says: You Matter

That experience branded something on my heart: gratitude matters. It opens doors, strengthens relationships, and quietly tells people, “You matter.”

So, earlier this year, I sat down to write thank-you notes to our visitors at Kulea Childcare Villages. I honestly thought I was mostly being practical. My main goal was to follow up and ask if they would consider writing a review for us on GreatNonprofits. I wrote the visitors on the evening of their visit (thanks to the time difference), thanking them for coming, sharing our newsletter, and including the GreatNonprofits link so they could share about their experience if they wanted to.

An "X" for One More Day

That same weekend, on Saturday, I went to see the movie I Can Only Imagine 2.

f the stories that struck me was about Tim Timmons, who draws an X on his arm every morning as a reminder to thank God for one more day. He started that practice after being told he had terminal cancer and only a few years to live, and yet decades later he is still here, still drawing that X, still choosing gratitude. (Click his picture to learn more, follow him on Facebook)

The next morning, I woke up to a message from my sister. One of the visitors was deeply moved by her time at Kulea Childcare Villages. She said it meant a lot to receive a warm thank-you note and the newsletter so quickly after her visit. Because of what she saw, heard, and felt—both in person and through that follow-up—she felt led by God to make a donation. 

I don’t share that to pat myself on the back. To me, it was just a small, practical way to say, “We see you. We appreciate you. You matter to us.” But her response humbled me deeply. Something as simple as “Thank you for being here” confirmed what God was already stirring in her heart. Gratitude quietly made room for generosity, circling back in ways I never expected.

Gratitude: His Reach is Far

Before getting up, I lay in bed thinking about the leaders’ visit, my sister’s message, the donation, the habit my mom taught me, the responses to my thank-you notes, and Tim Timmons’ X on his arm. It felt like God had stacked all these moments on top of each other, pointing to the same word: Gratitude. I realized I am being surrounded, almost chased, by reminders to be grateful.

I haven't fully figured out why He is pressing this so hard on my heart right now, but that morning, after reading my sister's message and lying there thinking, I felt this strong urge to get up and write about it. I do know that I am in a season where being alone is still a struggle, but I still long to share life with someone. At the same time, I sense God inviting me to shift my gaze from what I don't have yet to what I already do have.

He is reminding me to be grateful for where I am and how far I’ve come. Grateful for the people who surround me. Grateful for my work with Kulea Villages and the privilege of visiting, serving, and standing alongside the women and families we serve. Grateful for the chance to connect with leaders who care, and for the countless ways He weaves small acts—like a simple thank you note—into His bigger story.

I still believe there is more ahead for me personally and for Kulea Villages. But for now, I want to keep listening. I want to keep noticing. And I want to keep saying Thank You—for this day, this work, these people, this place, and even this season where God is teaching me, again and again, the power of gratitude.

Kulea Villages

Kulea Villages is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in partnership with Kulea Villages entities in Tanzania and Kenya. Rather than dramatic rescues, their child protection model focuses on stabilizing families through a process that typically lasts 1-2 years, prioritizing education, nutrition, and family income generation through a business. Join our email list for new blog alerts. We appreciate your support.