THANKSLIVING

 

I may have shared before that I wrote a newsletter for my children for 10 years.  I included fun items from the numerous journals I kept while they were growing up which included birthdays, achievements, experiences living on the East Coast and in Sweden and Germany, plus other mundane reports.  Now and then I wrote a little “essay” which not only shared my feelings, but also was intended to be a reminder to be heedful of doing better and becoming better people.  This is what I wrote for the November 2005 issue of 

THE NICHOLS FAMILY NEWS:

 

“Here’s to my favorite holiday-   Thanksgiving!  

    It is the one celebration where family and friends spend time together without the pressure of exchanging gifts.  We simply enjoy associating with each other—laughing, playing games, and eating some of our most favorite foods.  The uplifting of spirit through our recognition of blessings received is a reminder that we need to be living in thanksgiving daily, 

not just one time a year.

 Studies show that a grateful heart is not one which has to depend on wealth or health in order to be happy.  Interestingly, there is not a one-to-one ratio between the happiness we enjoy and the “successes” of life we own. 

 Cicero said, “The grateful heart is not only the greatest virtue but the parent of all the others.”

 

 Experts say there are three aspects of a grateful heart:

         1.   an awareness of life’s blessings and their source

        2.   an attitude of sharing—blessings multiply as we share them with others

     3. a sense of obligation to give back to the future for all the sacrifices inherited from those who went before us; when we serve others, it is not a bestowal of favors but paying a debt; our liberties, privileges, homes, schools, churches and wonders of science with their infinite blessings have been achieved by men and women mostly unknown to us

 Much of Christ’s story on earth is revealed in His expression of thanksgiving and appreciation for the “little” things in life.  He talked about the beauty of the wildflowers, a cup of water, the thoughtfulness of those who were kind to the hungry and ill, the talents which were used well, the widow’s mite, and many other token examples.

Just as Cicero said the grateful heart is the greatest virtue, Christ said in a revelation to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 59:21 a lack of gratitude is the greatest sin.

 “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments….”

When we forget to give thanks then we open ourselves to greed, covetousness, and a host of other failings.  Life itself is an entrustment from God, and everything we know and have has the mark of His handiwork on it.  Acknowledge His hand in all things, and you won’t be found “wanting” in the balance at any time.

I then suggested that my family list some of their blessings on small pieces of paper then slip them into an envelope so they could remove and review them frequently in true "Thanksliving”.  

I invite you—and me—to make a conscious effort during November…and every day in the year…to pay attention to the abundance in your life.  Perhaps you may want to try the same little exercise to help you be more aware of the numberless blessings you constantly receive.   They are bountiful!

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!