Sunday, July 15, 2012

Graditude...not only the greatest virtue...

 


....but the parent of all others. - Cicero

I gave a primary lesson on gratitude today to a class of 7 year olds that included my daughter.  It never ceases to amaze me how much more I get out of these lessons than it feels like I give.

One of my favorite things about the gospel is how I feel I re-discover truths at different times in my life. I hear a certain principle once, and its meaningful to me, and then I hear it again at a different stage of life and it hits home for completely different reasons.

One of the scriptures we read together was in  Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

I have this verse highlighted in my scriptures with a note in the margin that I added during my college institute class.  My chicken scratches read: "Its not happy people who are grateful, its grateful people who are happy!"

 I feel like writing that on my bathroom mirror with a Sharpie! 

We all have our trials in life and one thing I've learned lately is that you never really know the struggles others face.  I found out recently that one of the happiest people I know is one facing a challenge that would have me wrapped up in a permanant fetal possition.  Talking to her about it she told me "I feel like my attitude is maybe the only thing in my life that I have control over, so I'm sure as hell going to have a good one, it makes all the difference." 

I write this entry with a renewed determination to have an attitude of gratitude, knowing it can make all the difference in my happiness!  Afterall, I do have so much to be grateful for!


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