Let’s face it. We all have bad days. Sometimes your friends and loved ones may find it challenging to hang around you. Maybe you are going through a messy divorce and you need to vent about your disastrous relationship. Perhaps you have turmoil in your family, and you often need to break dates to put out fires.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- How to Thank Someone For Putting Up With You After a Death or Period of Grief
- How to Thank Someone For Putting Up With You During an Illness
- Funny Ways to Thank Someone For Putting Up With You
- Short ‘Thank You For Putting Up With Me’ Messages for a Card
Maybe you rely on your friends for help more than you’d like. Perhaps you feel bad for always asking for rides to appointments or help with projects around your home.
You’re lucky if you have friends who say, “I’m here for you” over and over again. Thank them for putting up with you by sending them a note with a gift. Here are some alternative phrases you can say instead of, “Thank you for putting up with me.”
How to Thank Someone for Putting Up with You After a Death or Period of Grief
You may have not been able to go to your friend’s wedding shower because you were visiting your mom at the hospice facility. Or maybe you haven’t felt like attending the monthly “mom’s night out” in your neighborhood because you haven’t felt like being around others since the death of your husband. In short, you may not have been a great friend to those around you while grieving for your deceased loved one.
Thank your friends for sticking with you when times are hard. Thank them for being around you, even though you cried at every meeting. Here are some phrases to consider.
1. “Thank you for all the support you have given me during this difficult time.”
“Thank you for putting up with me” is a rather self-castigating comment. There may be a time and a place for such a phrase, but try to use it sparingly. Instead, consider thanking your friend for supporting you during your difficult time.
2. “You are such a great friend!”
Friends should be with you during the good and bad times. Unfortunately, some friends are fickle and only think of themselves. Reward a friend who supports you all the time by thanking him or her.
3. “This has been the hardest year of my life. I’m not sure I could have gotten through it without you.”
This alternative phrase has a better tone than you saying, “Thank you for putting up with me.”
4. “I know I haven’t been much fun lately, and I’m not sure if I will ever get back to normal. Thank you for loving me no matter what.”
Your life has changed forever due to the loss of your family member. Depending on the circumstances, you may find yourself not enjoying the same activities that you used to do with your friend. A good friend will accept these changes and support you no matter what.
5. “My mom always thought of you as one of the family. Thanks for being my ‘sister’ during this difficult time.”
If you are writing a thank you note in response to a sympathy gift, consider commenting on the relationship between the deceased and the note’s recipient.
6. “I don’t think I can thank you enough!”
Did your friend take over carpool duties when your dad was in the hospital? Did she drop off dinner countless times for your hungry family? Did she give you coffee gift cards and bags of snacks to enjoy while visiting your family member in the hospital?
You may have a whole list of items for which you need to thank your friend. Start the list with this phrase.
How to Thank Someone for Putting Up with You During an illness
You find out who your real friends are when you face a difficult diagnosis. Sometimes getting well is a full-time job, and you may struggle to make quality time for your friends.
Here are some ways to thank your friend for “putting up with you” during hard times.
7. “You are a ray of sunshine in my life.”
Hopefully, you have a person in your life who always swoops in to make things better, no matter the situation. These optimistic people need to be rewarded.
8. “You would make a great nurse!”
Some people aren’t fazed by the icky things that come with illness. If you have a friend who visits you when you aren’t at your best, compliment her on her fortitude.
9. “You’ve seen me at my worst and you didn’t run away. Thank you for that.”
Are you looking for a way to say thank you to a special person in your life? Consider giving your friend a small gift to show your appreciation.
10. “I don’t know how I could have gotten through my treatments without you.”
Did your friend drive you to chemo and clean your bathroom after you were sick? Thank those friends who went above and beyond the regular call of duty.
Funny Ways to Thank Someone for Putting Up with You
It takes skill to be able to use humor appropriately during a tragic situation. If your friend has a sense of humor, consider using the following thank you phrases.
11. “You’re just doing this to get an invitation to my New Year’s Eve party, aren’t you?”
Did your friend hold your hair back when you were sick? Respond with this quip.
12. “You must be really bored to spend your evening listening to my tales of woe.”
Chances are, it’s not boredom that keeps your friend around you during hard times.
13. “The only reason that you like hanging around me is that you feel great about your life when you leave.”
Self-deprecating humor is annoying if done too often, but there may be a bit of truth in this statement.
14. “Thank you for cleaning my bathroom and doing my laundry when I was going through chemo. Please know that if you ever find yourself in this situation. I will be the first one to call a maid service to clean your house.”
Sure, you appreciate all that your friend has done for you, but you don’t even like cleaning your own toilets, right?
15. “When this is all over, I’ll take you out for a fancy dinner. I’ll even pay for a supersized meal.”
When it comes to paying for a thank you gift, it’s the thought that counts.
Short ‘Thank You for Putting Up with Me’ Messages for a Card
Are you looking for a quick message to write on one of those tiny floral cards? Maybe you only have the energy to write a quick note to each of your friends. Here are some phrases to consider instead of saying, “Thank you for putting up with me.”
16. “You rock!”
A simple message is still a good message!
17. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Your friend probably already understands how much you appreciate him, but you need to say it anyway.
18. “I can’t imagine life without you.”
We all have those people in our lives who we depend on for support.
19. “Your generosity amazes me.”
A person can be generous with gifts, time, and talents. Celebrate those in your life who have a willing spirit.
20. “I love you.”
These three little words don’t get enough use. Tell your friends how much they mean to you all the time.
Other Ways of Thanking Your Friends
Are you looking for other ways to thank your friends?
Consider hosting a celebratory event after you are cancer-free for a year. Thank your friends with good food and drinks and consider giving each of them a gift bag full of small treats.
Even if you aren’t up for celebrating, you can still show your friends that you appreciate them by dropping small floral bouquets on their doorsteps. Include a thank you note in the gift and write the things that you would feel awkward saying in person.
Give your friends a shout-out on social media. Tag them on a post to show that you appreciate all they have done for you. Make sure you don’t forget anyone!
The best way to say thank you is to say it in person or write a note. Regardless of how you do it, make sure you express your appreciation for those who have loved you during your darkest hours.
If you're looking for more ways to show thanks, read our guides on thank you gifts for coworkers and how to thank someone for being a friend.