Gratitude

“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 

President Thomas S. Monson

We have been so blessed. Financially, physically, spiritually and emotionally. I truly can't help but be amazed at the blessings the Lord has chosen to send our way. We really have it pretty dang good. No complaints. Not even a little one.

I sometimes wonder if this means I'm supposed to be gearing up for something big. If all these blessings are going to somehow disappear one day. I don't know why I think that, but I constantly have the thought in the back of my mind, "Ok, where's the catch?" Not that I want that by any means, but it seems like everyone else around us is going through so much and we really have no complaints right now.

When I think further, though, I wonder if maybe the reason we have all that we do is that I have always made it a point to habitually say "Thank You." I say it to the waiter in a restaurant after he fills my drink. I mention it to the random stranger who pauses for a second to hold the door for me at school. And I especially thank my Heavenly Father for my blessings every day.

Do you think maybe Heavenly Father sometimes withholds blessings we've been asking for when we neglect to express gratitude for what we already have? I know that he loves us and watches over us, but is that like one of those Godly laws or something?  It says in D&C "I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." We are commanded to be grateful... It's just something I've been thinking about.

I've commented a lot on this blog and in life in general about the "gimme generation". I feel like I'm surrounded by people who subconsciously (some not-so-subconsciously) believe, "I exist; therefore, you owe me something", and are never satisfied with what they have. Obviously we should always be striving for goals and trying to better ourselves, but there's a line, and it's crossed far too much. I don't believe I'm completely exempt from this mentality, but I'm constantly trying to appreciate the value of hard work, and I'm "learning the art of being content." It's easier said than done, and especially easy when you have a lot in your life to be content with, but examples of people all around me prove that it can be done in any walk of life.

I know in a few years I'll probably be wishing for my days on easy street. But for right now, I'm going to be grateful for what I have, and maybe when the storm clouds roll in it won't be as hard, because I'll have learned to be grateful in all things.