"This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help."We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues" **President Thomas S. Monson
This is the month in which we celebrate Thanksgiving. Hopefully it is not just a month for eating turkey and stuffing or for welcoming in the holiday season. It can be a month to count our blessings and express gratitude for all that we have been given.
The truth is, we should always live a life filled with gratitude. I know when I focus on all that I have been blessed with in my life I am a lot happier than when I focus on all that I seem to not have. I love the above quote by President Monson. Gratitude truly is a noble virtue. I love that he points out some of the things that are right in the world. When I take the time to really look for the good in the world my soul is filled with joy and hope.
Expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father through prayer opens the windows of heaven to us. When we recognize that He is the giver of all good things in our life we allow ourselves to receive other blessings He may send our way. I believe God wants to bless all of his children in an unconditional way; however some of us do not receive all the benefits of the blessings because we fail to see them for what they really are.
We express gratitude to our Heavenly Father in other ways. When we live our lives with an attitude of gratitude, we appreciate all that we have. We treasure all that we have been given. In doing so, we show gratitude to He who is the giver of all things. When we serve others we show gratitude to the Savior.
Expressing gratitude to others is also important. Too often in life, thank you is left unsaid. I am not talking about saying thank you when a door is held open or teaching our children to say “please” and “thank you” when asking/receiving things. Good manners are important, but I am talking about a deeper sense of gratitude for those around us.
Do we say “thank you” to our spouses enough for all that they do to provide for our families? Do we say “thank you” to our spouse for providing a wonderful home, a place where we want to be? Do we thank our children for bringing joy to our lives? Do we thank our friends for always being there with a listening ear? Do we thank our neighbors for always having a friendly hello? Do we thank primary/school teachers for the influence they have on our children? Do we go out of our way to thank a church teacher for a great lesson they gave?
Thank you can be said in many ways. Sometimes we give gifts as an expression of thanks. I think a note, phone call or hug can say it just as well.
I believe developing an attitude of gratitude will help us find joy in the journey. Our lives will be filled with hope and sunshine instead of gloom and despair. May this Thanksgiving season bring you much happiness as you “count your many blessings”.
This is the month in which we celebrate Thanksgiving. Hopefully it is not just a month for eating turkey and stuffing or for welcoming in the holiday season. It can be a month to count our blessings and express gratitude for all that we have been given.
The truth is, we should always live a life filled with gratitude. I know when I focus on all that I have been blessed with in my life I am a lot happier than when I focus on all that I seem to not have. I love the above quote by President Monson. Gratitude truly is a noble virtue. I love that he points out some of the things that are right in the world. When I take the time to really look for the good in the world my soul is filled with joy and hope.
Expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father through prayer opens the windows of heaven to us. When we recognize that He is the giver of all good things in our life we allow ourselves to receive other blessings He may send our way. I believe God wants to bless all of his children in an unconditional way; however some of us do not receive all the benefits of the blessings because we fail to see them for what they really are.
We express gratitude to our Heavenly Father in other ways. When we live our lives with an attitude of gratitude, we appreciate all that we have. We treasure all that we have been given. In doing so, we show gratitude to He who is the giver of all things. When we serve others we show gratitude to the Savior.
Expressing gratitude to others is also important. Too often in life, thank you is left unsaid. I am not talking about saying thank you when a door is held open or teaching our children to say “please” and “thank you” when asking/receiving things. Good manners are important, but I am talking about a deeper sense of gratitude for those around us.
Do we say “thank you” to our spouses enough for all that they do to provide for our families? Do we say “thank you” to our spouse for providing a wonderful home, a place where we want to be? Do we thank our children for bringing joy to our lives? Do we thank our friends for always being there with a listening ear? Do we thank our neighbors for always having a friendly hello? Do we thank primary/school teachers for the influence they have on our children? Do we go out of our way to thank a church teacher for a great lesson they gave?
Thank you can be said in many ways. Sometimes we give gifts as an expression of thanks. I think a note, phone call or hug can say it just as well.
I believe developing an attitude of gratitude will help us find joy in the journey. Our lives will be filled with hope and sunshine instead of gloom and despair. May this Thanksgiving season bring you much happiness as you “count your many blessings”.
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