In
the book LDS Gems and Inspirational Quotes Henry B. Eyring writes
“You
could follow the command, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things’
(D&C 59:7), President Ezra Taft Benson suggested prayer as a time to do
that. He said:
“The
Prophet Joseph Smith said at one time that on of the greatest sins of which the
Latter-day Saints would be guilty is the sin of ingratitude. I presume most of
us have not thought of that as a great sin. There is a great tendency for us in
our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to ask for additional blessings.
But sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of
gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received. We enjoy so much.’
I
have a niece who once commented, “ how would you feel if you woke up one
morning and the only things you had were the things you said in your prayers
that you were thankful for. I have thought about that since and it has changed
my prayers.
I’m grateful for the country I live in.
I’m grateful for the opportunity we have to vote for great leaders. Living in
the high desert, I’m grateful for the rain and hope we will get more. I’m
grateful that we have a home and food and clothing to wear; for friends and
family who are willing to come to our aid. I grateful for two teen-age cats to
love and care for and laugh at.
My
husband looks funnily at me sometimes at some of the things that pop into my
head during prayers. I’m grateful for the sun, and flowers in our garden that
we live in such a beautiful place. I’m grateful that we have enough to share;
and pray for guidance to find those who need our help.
We
had the opportunity to donate some furniture to Catholic Charities to set up an
apartment for a refuge family last month. I don’t have a table to paint on but
another family has one to eat on. I don’t have a couch to lie on and watch TV.
But another family can sit. I gave away a dresser to keep my quilting stash in but someone else has a place
to put their children’s clothes.
I am blessed. I have opportunities to
grow, and share, and serve.
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