cindy's thoughts

When I tried posting as an attachment I couldn't open it. I don't know if it didn't go through or I was just doing something wrong. I posted it again by copying and pasting. Sorry for sending it twice :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A Prayerful Life is the Key to Possessing Gratitude."  These are not my own words, but President Monson's explanation of the meaning of a quote giving by President Joseph F. Smith. 

 

Said he: "The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life." He continued: "Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!"

 

 

Reflect for a moment the type of people you love to be around. What do they all have in common? I would venture to say they are happy, loving individuals, with a positive outlook on life. Rather than focusing on what they don't have or what is wrong in their life, they focus on the good things in life and the blessings they have been given. In essence, they have cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

 

While there is so much evil in the world today, there is also so much good. Focusing on the little tender mercies we experience every day will not only lift us, but those around us as well.

 

A couple weeks ago I was complaining to Joel about my house we just moved into, and that I don't know how I will make it 2 more years here. -We live in a 4 story house that has me going up and down stairs CONSTANTLY. In the first 3 weeks of living here I fell down the stairs 3 times.  After the first time falling, I walked down so carefully each time, that I still don't understand why I fell two more times, and was terrified of how many more times I might fall in 2 years.- Joel's response was "Think about being homeless and living in a bug infested, flea ridden condemned building." I suddenly went from being very discouraged and just wanting to cry if I had to use the stairs again, to being very happy and had a great day. Just like that. The minute I felt truly grateful, I felt happy.

 

Elder Uchdorf beautiful worded, "How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?" He continues, "Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges."

 

Trials and difficulties of life will pass swiftly as we keep an attitude of gratitude.

 

I was so amazed at this experience, that my feelings and disposition could change so quickly, that I immediately called Debbie to tell her my experience. She too was excited to share that she and Kim had been recording every day how they saw the Lords hand in their lives on a daily basis. She challenged me to do the same, and it really does make a difference in keeping a positive and grateful perspective.

 

We have been counseled many times to count our blessings and to recognize the Lords hand in our lives. While this is very important, I love Elder Uchtdorfs suggestion to not just be grateful for things, but to be grateful  in our circumstances.

 

He says," Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. It is difficult to develop a spirit of gratitude if our thankfulness is only proportional to the number of blessings we can count. True, it is important to frequently "count our blessings"—and anyone who has tried this knows there are many—but I don't believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. In fact, most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude. Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I'm suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be."

 

We all have different situations, and experience different trials, yet the promise stands for each of us that, "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."

 

I know we all want this promise, and the blessings of peace and happiness that can be experienced through gratitude. So, how do we attain an attitude of gratitude? Through prayer. Have your heart drawn out in thanks in all things and in all times and in all places to our loving Heavenly Father for all he gives and does for us, recognizing His hand in our lives each day. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.