I'm pretty sure that started happening when I was a little girl, and I experienced some of those special November holidays many times and with many different people in ways that have brought indelible memories of family and friends--and a realization that gratitude cannot be bound only to one day in a year.
Once again, this year in a reflective moment after the turkey dinner was over, my thoughts wandered to some of the truly magnificent words that have been written about thanksgiving and gratitude. But since I no longer have collections of people with whom I have opportunity to converse, (like children living at home, flying partners on the United jump seat, and even close friends), I decided to share a few of my favorite quotes on this printed page.
I hope some of them resonate with you as you think of your own reasons for being thankful and grateful in spite of the fact not every day is full of blue skies and sunshine.
It is not
JOY
that makes us
GRATEFUL;
it is
GRATITUDE
that makes us
JOYFUL.
GORDON B. HINCKLEY
"Give Thanksgiving on [your] knees, then stand and move forward to accomplish the Lord's purposes....
The giving of thanks to Deity is essentially a religious act. It is an acknowledgement of the belief...in the generous outpouring of the blessings of God upon us as a nation. It is a most remarkable and wonderful thing that the people of the United States of America have written into their law, as well as into their custom, the setting aside of a day to honor, acknowledge, and thank the Father of us all for His beneficence unto us. I hope that this unusual holiday is so ingrained into our national culture that it will never be removed or challenged in any way."
SARAH BAN BREATHNACH
"The concerto of "Real Life" is playing. Delight with Thanksgiving in the major and minor chords of its beautiful refrain."
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
"I awoke this morning with devout Thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. Shall I not call God the Beautiful, who daily showeth himself so to me in his gifts?
ALMA 34:38
...Receive the Holy Ghost and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.
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