There is something powerful about ending each day with gratitude. It may sound simple, but for a husband and wife who share the ups and downs of daily life, this practice can make the difference between feeling constantly drained and feeling constantly blessed. Gratitude is not just saying thank you out of politeness. It is a way of seeing, a way of choosing, and a way of loving. It is noticing what is good instead of magnifying what is lacking. It is appreciating the ordinary gestures that hold extraordinary meaning.
In our marriage, Chin and I have learned that gratitude every day is not automatic. It requires attention and intentionality. When work has been stressful, when the bills pile up, when family obligations become overwhelming, it can be tempting to end the day with complaints. But we remind ourselves that no matter how tiring life gets, we always have something to thank God for, and we always have something to thank each other for.
The Power of a Simple Thank You
I still remember the first few months of our marriage. Chin would cook dinner after a long day of work, and even though she was tired, she would put effort into preparing something that felt like home. A simple ginisang ampalaya, a steaming pot of sinigang, or fried tilapia with tomatoes and bagoong. And every time, I made it a point to say thank you. Not a casual, half-hearted thank you, but a genuine one. I would say, “Salamat, Love. Masarap talaga luto mo.” Her smile in return made me realize that a sincere thank you is not small at all. It affirms effort. It validates love.
In Filipino culture, sometimes couples grow so used to each other that they forget to say thank you for the everyday things. Some husbands forget to thank their wives for doing the laundry or preparing baon. Some wives forget to thank their husbands for paying the bills or driving them to work. But when gratitude disappears, resentment quietly grows. That is why we make it a habit to notice and to voice out our thanks, no matter how repetitive the task may seem.
Gratitude in the Mundane
One night, after a long day, I came home to see Chin folding the laundry in the sala while watching her favorite series on Netflix. She looked at me and laughed, “Akala mo ba folding clothes is glamorous? Hindi. Pero para sayo, ginagawa ko.” I sat beside her and started folding too. While we worked side by side, I told her, “Thank you for doing this. I know it is tiring.” She looked at me surprised and said, “You noticed?” That night, we both realized that gratitude shines brightest in the mundane.
The truth is, marriage is built on a thousand small acts of service that often go unnoticed. When we acknowledge them with thankfulness, it turns chores into acts of love instead of obligations. Folding clothes becomes a love language. Washing the dishes becomes a testimony of care. Even taking out the trash becomes a way of saying, “I thought of you.” Gratitude transforms the ordinary into something meaningful.
Choosing Gratitude Over Complaints
We Filipinos are naturally expressive. We rant about traffic, we sigh about expenses, and we sometimes unload our frustrations at the end of the day. Chin and I are no different. There are evenings when one of us comes home grumpy, bothered by the long commute or by unfinished deadlines. But we made a promise: before we sleep, we will not let complaints be the last words we share.
Instead, we try to end each day with something positive. Sometimes we do it in prayer, thanking God aloud for the blessings of the day. Sometimes we simply tell each other, “I am thankful for you today because you listened to me,” or “I am thankful that we had dinner together despite our schedules.” This practice shifts the energy of the night. Instead of sleeping heavy with complaints, we sleep light with appreciation.
Family Moments of Gratitude
In Filipino families, gatherings are often filled with laughter, food, and teasing. But beneath all the noise is a spirit of gratitude. During birthdays, we always hear people say, “Salamat sa Diyos at nakaraos.” During reunions, titas and lolos say, “Salamat at kumpleto tayo ngayon.” Gratitude is deeply ingrained in our culture.
Chin and I borrow from that tradition. Whenever we host family dinners, even if it is just a simple handaan of pancit, fried chicken, and lumpiang shanghai, we pause to thank everyone for being present. It reminds us that family togetherness is not guaranteed. Each gathering is a gift.
I remember one particular night when we had her parents over for dinner. After eating, Chin’s father said, “Salamat, anak. Hindi ko akalain na makakakain kami ng ganito kasaya sa inyo.” His words stayed with me because they reminded me that gratitude is contagious. When one person expresses thanks, it ripples through the room and magnifies joy.
Gratitude in Difficult Times
It is easy to be grateful when life is smooth. But what about during hardships? Chin and I have had our share of struggles. There were months when our finances were tight, when opportunities we hoped for did not come through, or when we had misunderstandings that tested our patience.
During one of those difficult months, I remember Chin telling me, “I know we are struggling right now, but I am grateful we are struggling together.” That statement changed the way I viewed trials. Instead of focusing on what we lacked, we focused on what we had: each other. Gratitude became our weapon against despair.
When Typhoon Ulysses hit and parts of our city were flooded, we saw neighbors lose so much. Some lost their homes. Some lost their possessions. We helped where we could, donating food packs and clothes. And that night, while we sat in our dry living room, Chin and I prayed and thanked God for the roof above our heads. Gratitude does not erase pain, but it reminds us that even in storms, there are reasons to hope.
Daily Rituals of Gratitude
Over time, Chin and I created small rituals to anchor gratitude in our marriage. One of them is our “thank you before lights off” practice. Every night before we sleep, we each say one thing we are thankful for about the day. Sometimes it is serious like, “I am thankful you encouraged me during my stressful meeting.” Sometimes it is playful like, “I am thankful you shared your fries kahit ayaw mo.”
Another ritual is during meals. We pray before eating and take a few seconds to appreciate the food on the table. Even if it is just a simple tinola or instant noodles, we pause and remind ourselves that many people go hungry. This gratitude turns even the humblest meal into a feast of blessings.
Gratitude Toward Each Other’s Families
Part of our gratitude extends to each other’s families. I always tell Chin that I am thankful to her parents for raising her the way they did. Without them, I would not have met the woman who brings so much light into my life. In the same way, she expresses gratitude to my family, appreciating their support and warmth.
There was a time when her mother cooked us a huge pot of adobo to take home after a visit. It lasted us several meals. Chin said, “We are blessed to have parents who still look out for us.” That moment reminded us that gratitude is not only vertical between husband and wife but also horizontal, stretching out to those who surround us.
Gratitude for Dreams Shared
Chin has big dreams, and I do too. Some of those dreams take time, money, and effort to pursue. But instead of complaining about how far we still are from them, we choose to be grateful for the journey.
For example, Chin dreams of traveling to Europe with me one day. We cannot do it yet, but instead of sulking, we are grateful that we can explore nearby destinations together: Baguio, Tagaytay, Cebu. Each trip, no matter how simple, becomes training ground for future adventures. Gratitude turns waiting into joy instead of frustration.
We also dream of writing and publishing more works together. Every time we finish a chapter, no matter how tired we are, we thank each other for the effort. Gratitude fuels us to keep going because we see progress instead of pressure.
The Ripple Effect of Gratitude
What we discovered is that gratitude is contagious. When I thank Chin, she feels encouraged and loved. In return, she thanks me for things I often overlook. Soon, gratitude flows back and forth, creating an atmosphere where love thrives. Even our friends notice it. They sometimes say, “Nakakatuwa kayo. Lagi kayong nagpapasalamat sa isa’t isa.”
In the Filipino context, this ripple effect extends outward. When couples practice gratitude, it affects how they treat their in-laws, siblings, neighbors, and even co-workers. A grateful heart is a generous heart. It is easier to help others, to listen, to forgive, and to extend grace.
Reflection
Ending the day with gratitude instead of complaints is not just a discipline. It is a gift we give to ourselves and to each other. Gratitude softens our hearts, heals our irritations, and magnifies the blessings we already have. It keeps us from comparing our life to others and keeps us focused on what is truly important.
Chin and I are far from perfect. We still complain sometimes, especially when we are tired. But we keep reminding ourselves that gratitude is a choice we can return to again and again. It is the lens that allows us to see that even on the hardest days, we have love, we have faith, and we have each other.
At the end of it all, marriage is not just about surviving the daily grind. It is about choosing to see the beauty hidden in plain sight. Gratitude every day is the real romance. It turns ordinary evenings into sacred moments. It turns simple meals into banquets of love. It turns a lifetime together into a journey of endless thanksgiving.
And as long as we keep gratitude alive, our marriage will always have space for joy, no matter what season we find ourselves in.
ns216.73.216.174da2
and then Add to home screen.