Giving thanks

I have been pondering gratitude as I am sure many of you have with Thanksgiving rapidly approaching. When I searched the scriptures for gratitude, I found that it does not appear in that form in the standard works. But thanksgiving and thanks are common in the scriptures. Thanksgiving is an act of joy and joy is often mentioned in conjunction with thanksgiving.

The truly beautiful thing about thanksgiving, is that as you sow the seeds of gratitude they grow. The more we sow, the more we reap. I loved the scripture in 2 Cor 9,

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

This is not specifically focusing on gratitude, but I certainly think it applies. God wants us to give of our substance freely. And when we give from our heart, holding nothing back, he will make us sufficient in all things. Now that's a blessing we all need.

The opposite is also true. If we withhold our substance or gratitude, we offend God. D&C 59: 21 says, And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things... That verse comes at the end of a very long description of the abundant blessings we can freely receive and enjoy by loving God with our heart, might, mind and strength as well as our neighbor, doing so with thanksgiving and cheerful hearts.

I received an email from a friend named April this week. I don't know April well, but I do know he has had struggles in her life. In spite of that, she has the kind of face that shows she normally wears a smile. You know how some people always look grouchy and some always look happy? April is one of the ones that looks happy. She brought up a good point in her note asking why it takes a holiday, one day, for us to "deeply feel the many blessings in our lives." Good point. That is why I encourage people to keep a gratitude journal. It doesn't have to be daily. But frequently pondering our blessings is a wonderful exercise to do on a regular basis.

I want to close with her three wonderful suggestions for expressing gratitude/thanksgiving/thankfulness.

"Expressing gratitude for the things we value and appreciate (counting our blessings one by one) is a good beginning on our journey of thankfulness. I would like to share three ideas on expressing thankfulness.
1. Saying "Thank you" in our mind and heart after experiences that stir our emotions, regardless of whether we think them good or bad.
2. Say "Thank you" for your experiences during prayer, pondering and meditation.
3. By not thinking and speaking ill of yourself, other people, circumstances, situations, events or experiences, you are receiving those things with thankfulness. Staying calm, unruffled, quiet and peaceful during trying situations demonstrates your thankfulness. During a trying experience, and even after, you may not feel like being thankful, yet that is the VERY TIME your thankfulness HAS THE MOST POWER (remember, it's easy to be thankful for the good times.) These and many others are ways for us each to express gratitude, not just at Thanksgiving, but everyday of our lives."

I hope these suggestions will be a blessing to you. Happy Thanksgiving.
Blessings, Dawn