Sis. Snow gave a wonderful lesson on gratitude.
Gratitude - a path to happiness
She asked - Do the words Gratitude and Thankful have the same meaning to you?
She covered 3 points:
1. Acknowledge blessings - In the scriptures it says "his hand is in all things" and "live in thanksgiving daily." Bonnie Parkin gave a talk where she shared a story about a Blessing Basket.
"Let me share a sweet story with you. A family was going through a difficult time. It was hard for them not to focus on their challenges. The mother wrote: "Our world had completely crumpled, so we turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Almost immediately we realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily. A close friend pointed out to me that our family's 'blessing basket' was overflowing. From that conversation came a sort of game, which my children and I grew to love. Before family prayer each night we would talk about how our day had gone and then share with each other all of the many blessings that had been added to our 'blessing basket.' The more we expressed gratitude, the more there was to be grateful for. We felt the love of the Lord in a significant way as opportunities for growth presented themselves."
What would a "blessing basket" add to your family?'
LuAnn passed out small jars to each sister with a pack of small papers. She asked us to write out things we were grateful for on the slips of paper and put them into the jar. She helped us see and appreciate our own gratitude for the small, simple things to the ones with deeper meaning.
Pres. Monson has said: "This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."
2. Have faith - LuAnn retold the story of the 10 lepers and reminded us how only 1 man turned back to say thank you. In the scripture it doesn't say thy "gratitude", it says thy faith had made thee whole.
Do we say thanks for our blessings?
3. Express Thanks - By loving and serving others we express our thanks for our blessings.
Thank you Sis. Snow the wonderful lesson and the spirit which you brought to the room.
- Megan
2. Have faith - LuAnn retold the story of the 10 lepers and reminded us how only 1 man turned back to say thank you. In the scripture it doesn't say thy "gratitude", it says thy faith had made thee whole.
Do we say thanks for our blessings?
3. Express Thanks - By loving and serving others we express our thanks for our blessings.
President Monson said this: "Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” 3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."
Sister Snow wrapped up the lesson by saying "Don't focus on what's missing in your life. Focus on what is in abundance around you (Pres. Monson). Gratitude is a spirit filled principle. It opens our minds and hearts to all that we have. Take a positive approach and be happy. And lastly, Think to Thank.
She referred back to the jars she had passed out and read the quote that was placed on the top on each jar:
Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here: yours is the part of cherishing them. - J. Reuben Clark
----------Thank you Sis. Snow the wonderful lesson and the spirit which you brought to the room.
- Megan