Growing Gratitude
By Vickey Pahnke-Taylor

Wanna have a better day?  Here is a simple and beautiful way to do so:

We have so many reasons to thank our Father in Heaven. By taking the time to do so, and relishing the blessings which are ours, we will have a better day.

“Wait a minute!” You might say.  “I am in crisis now. Things are going terribly for me.  Life is hard and dark right now.”

I understand.  In my heart, I know what it is to go through dark and difficult times. I understand that sometimes it seems to take a great amount of effort simply to breathe and concentrate on the task at hand. But I also understand that our loving Father is mindful and is watching over us. I know that He celebrates our joys and nurtures us in our afflictions. Isn’t that a blessing for which to thank Him?  We are here, having a mortal experience because we agreed to go through this experience, with all of its ramifications.

King Benjamin taught that we are all beggars (Mosiah 4:19) and that, regardless of our efforts, we are “unprofitable servants.”  He grants us the very breath we take. He answers prayers. He points us in the direction of truth and love, as we sincerely inquire.  He grants us opportunities to grow and clarify.  He sends strength and understanding. He blesses us, through the Church, the scriptures and our leaders, to be better. These are very real reasons to be thankful! 

The age old counsel of looking around to see others who are less fortunate than us is good advice.  On those days when we don’t feel like doing that, though, how can we dig out of our hole of self-pity and recognize the things for which to be thankful?

1. Think about it.
   This may seem like silly advice, but if we don’t take the time to think, how can we get to the point where we may, as President Thomas S. Monson has counseled, “Think to thank”?  There is a mental process to go through. Take some time to push negative things out of the mind and think about things that are positive.

2. Pray for the understanding to recognize and enjoy the blessings that we own.
   Elder J. Reuben Clark, Jr. once taught, “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” (Church News, 14 June 1969, p.2.).

3. As you drive down the road, or walk down the street, open up that mouth and call out, “Thank you!” 
   You may get some strange looks.  You might feel awkward. But it will be fun!  And, lo and behold, you just might smile. You just might find a real reason to share those words, thank you, with a family member, a friend, an associate.  It may make it more joyous to get down on the knees and share thanks in prayer to Father in Heaven.

4. Take a childlike approach to little things all around. 
   We sometimes have the little ones in the family say prayers that go on and on and on.  They are beautiful and profound.  They are simple and interesting.  The “thank you’s” may be for a flower that was picked in the garden, some little assistance offered by a sibling that no one would have thought twice about, the smile of an elderly lady in the checkout line. 

What “small and simple” things can you list?  When the prayer is completed, you may find that the eyes are opened to additional “little” things that are lovingly given every day, all the time.

Right now is a good time to take Elder Eyring’s advice.  Right now is a good time to reflect and exercise faith and allow a trickle of memories to come to mind.  That trickle may turn into a flood as we express gratitude for the things given.  Gratitude will grow.  It will help create a better day.  Using the same approach daily will create better weeks.

This holiday season may turn out to be our best one ever, simply because of the growth within our own heart!