Attitude of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude

Posted on 12:03 PM by Unknown | 1 comment

 

So sitting in a class, the teacher asked us to find something red in the classroom and then close our eyes.  We did so, and while our eyes were closed, she asked us to think of something yellow in the classroom...  Most of us couldn't think of anything yellow... as we opened our eyes, she explained how when we become so focused on the red, we couldn't think of the yellow, but does that mean that the yellow doesn't exist?  NO!  It's still there in the room, even if we can't see it or remember it.  Then she related that to how red is like the negative things in our lives and yellow is like the good things...  We will see or remember what we focus on.

God's command to Be Grateful

That reminds me of the scripture: "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph.5:20,Bible KJV).  God has further said many times in scripture our need to recognize HIM in our lives.  On one occasion, He said, "And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments" (D&C 59:21).

Thomas S. Monson explained: "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 place among the noblest of virtues."

For our Happiness and Good

So God has said, "...men are that they might have joy" (2 Ne. 2:25, Book of Mormon).  God wants us to be happy, and knows that being grateful is a major way that we can do this.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains the blessings of Heaven as we are grateful no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, knowing that with God's help, things will get better: "When we are grateful to God, in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation.  In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise.  In pain, we can glory in Christ's Atonement.  In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven's embrace."

After all, Christ has said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18, Bible KJV).  He will and HE DOES.  I have felt it most often as I choose to focus on the good that God has already given, even when times are hard.  As I see it, God sends more, and I recognize His help in my life.  After all, just like the yellow, he is always always there but sometimes we just don't notice it...

If we would simple notice and acknowledge it, God has promised that those "who [receive] all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto [them], even an hundred fold, yea, more" (D&C 78:19).  I know that this is true and will happen to all who obey God's command to be grateful in all things, because I've experienced it every time I choose to be grateful in all things.

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Um...A 'Thank You' Would Be Nice

Um...A 'Thank You' Would Be Nice

Posted on 3:57 PM by Unknown | 1 comment

This week's post is from Alexis Wood:

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
(Luke 17:12-17)

I volunteer part time answering the help lines for the largest genealogical organization in the world FamilySearch.  The other night I was working late answering phones and chats like I do every day.  Things can get pretty busy between school, social activities, and my volunteer service, so as the day winds down I can tell when it’s time to quit and take a break.  This was just such a time.  I had been answering question after question after question from one of our sweet patrons for over an hour.  It was getting late, I hadn’t eaten dinner, and despite my need for a break I was being both helpful and patient.  (When I am hungry, this is particularly difficult to do.)  Before I finished making my closing statements our chat ended without so much as a thank you.  With a little headache from my recent lack of sleep, I glared at my computer screen, took my headset off, and headed to the kitchen to start making dinner while I grumbled over my patron’s inadequate gratitude for my excellent and voluntary services.

It didn’t take long until I was suddenly struck by the reality of my own ingratitude; most especially towards my Heavenly Father.  My frustration quickly turned to embarrassment as I considered the remarkable similarities between me and my patron.  I tend to expect material comforts, physical wellness, spiritual strength, familial joys, political stability, educational opportunity, forgiveness, divine guidance, and the list goes on.  Typically I get it all and in abundance; I am lucky enough to be one of the most privileged people in the world.  Rarely, if ever, do I express an appropriate degree of gratitude for it. I know I am not alone.

In the Bible, Luke recounts the healing of the ten lepers. These ten desperate souls call out to Jesus to save them from their awful disease and He comes.  Surely all had faith to be healed as they followed his instruction, but nine out of ten failed to return and offer up their praise and gratitude to the Master.  I feel that ratio of ungrateful people is an accurate reflection on us, be we followers of Christ or not.  How often do we plead with the Lord for our wants and forget to give thanks for our blessings? (But how quick we are to turn against Him in anger!)

Because of His deep love for us Heavenly Father wants us to ask and seek for blessings, but He already knows our needs! I’m sure it must bring Him great joy to hear our humble, however inadequate, “thank you.”  We all have much to be thankful for! He has given each of us this beautiful earth and our wonderful bodies to experience mortal challenges and growth, and He has given each of us the gift of His perfect Son to help us on our way back home! I am sure that grateful hearts will better recognize His infinite love, and He will say as with the leper, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:19).

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Faith in God's Timing

Faith in God's Timing

Posted on 11:53 PM by Unknown | No comments

They say hindsight is 20/20.

A little over a year ago, my dad lost his job of 24 years. He began the ugly task of seeking new employment. Thousands of searches and hundreds of applications went by, yielding a few interviews which ultimately amounted to nothing. Discouraged, our family prayed for continued faith and a miracle. But as time continued to go by I found myself asking, why is my dad STILL unemployed? We are doing all we can do. My mom picked up substitute teaching whenever she could, but she was also caring for my nephew since my sister is a single, working mom herself. At church we learn about faith in God's timing... but how much longer could we hold out? How much longer before God would answer our prayers the way we wanted them answered?

Eight months ago, my Grandpa suffered a stroke. He lives, but he has been struggling to recover mobility in his left side. Progress has been slow. The first step, which took a whole month, was relearning how to swallow. During that time, liquids were forbidden in his diet. He "drank" thickened water which he detested, and which consistently failed to quench his thirst. When family members visited him in his hospital room, he uncharacteristically begged for water. Often he would say, "Carin, if you really love me, you will let me take a sip of that water there." But due to the risk of the water falling into his lungs instead of stomach, I refused to give into his desperate pleadings. He had to wait.

Eventually my Grandpa was released from the care center, but still required a lot of daily assistance. Family in the area, including myself, all pitch in - taking turns cleaning the house, working in the yard, helping out during the day with meals, and spending restless nights with my grandpa who wakes every few hours, needing to turn in bed to relieve pain, but unable to move on his own. Dark circles under the eyes were a common sight in the family. Healing and recovery take time; but lack of noticeable improvement, despite tireless efforts, leads to impatience. And impatience impedes faith.

Then three months ago, my mom and dad began considering moving into my grandparents' neighborhood. Moving from Seattle to Salt Lake would be a major change, but my dad still had no job holding him down. A house around the corner from my grandparents' home went on the market. My parents put a bid on the house and the sellers accepted. My childhood home went on the market and was snatched up and sold after only a couple of hours. Three weeks later, the moving truck pulled up in front of our new home in Salt Lake.

I often ask myself, and have others ask me, “Why does God allow bad things happen to good people?” It is a question with a simple answer—to allow us to grow. A quote that comforts me comes from a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "When you are compelled to give up something, or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that as you are learning this lesson, God want to give you something better" (Elder Enzio Busche).

Things are going much better with my grandpa. His spirits are high and he is learning to use a walker. Unfortunately, my dad is still searching for a job, but his prospects are better in Utah. I have been impressed with the strength of character he has shown, and the unconditional love he demonstrates to his family. Patiently waiting on God’s timetable is an ongoing process. I never envisioned these changes a year ago, but looking back I can see God’s hand in every step. God does have a plan for us. He does care. When we are patient, we come to understand these truths.

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