#1) Gratitude is like prayer. Sometimes you don't feel like praying, but you do it anyway--and by the time you're done, you feel prayerful. Making my gratitude list worked the same way. There were many, many nights when I wasn't feeling very grateful... or just not in the mood to be creative... but by the time I was done writing about my blessings, my Spirit was lifted--every time.
#2) Heavenly Father has commanded us to be grateful because He loves us. I have a fervent testimony that each of the commandments are for our safety, our protection, and happiness. At first, the commandments may seem restrictive, but when lived, you realize that they are evidence of God's love for you. Gratitude is the same. Gratitude blesses our lives with contentment and joy...
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie
#3) Gratitude makes us more aware of God's love. When I started this project, I began to feel that I was being blessed for it... but then I realized that the blessings had always been there. I was just more aware of them.
#4) "Pondering" allows the Spirit to communicate. Every day of this past month, I was mindful all day long about gratitude. Because of this, I feel like the Spirit helped ideas to come and the writing to flow.
#5) Expressing gratitude is important. I think most of us FEEL love and gratitude for others all the time, but don't always express it. President Monson describes this as wrapping and present, but not giving it. I'm thankful that this project encouraged me to publicly write my gratitude for my parents, in-laws, siblings, children, spouse, friends, and teachers. It was often hard to put such big feelings into words... but it felt good to do it.
Tonight, for my very last post...
I am grateful for this lesson in Gratitude!
2 comments:
I can't begin to tell you how much I've loved reading your daily posts. Reading them has helped me to better recognize my own blessings. You've helped me to be more grateful this month. I wish I would have done this! I loved them all...from being grateful that your last name isn't "Butt" to your sweet and sincere words about those you love.
I'm grateful for YOU! You continue to be an important example in my life. One of faith and love and fun. I am blessed to have you as family.
Now...what have you got planned for the month of December?! :)
I love it, I think i've said that about each of your posts!! I'm sort of glad I only did a week, I don't think I could have been as creative as you but I did find myself thinking about all the things that I have been blessed with weather they were funny or serious! Thanks for all your wonderful words and motivation this month!!
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