An Attitude of Gratitude
I’ve always loved Thanksgiving. I might even call it my 2nd favorite holiday (after Groundhog’s Day of course). Admittedly, I think the roots of this love are probably selfish since my birthday is always close to, if not on, the holiday itself and for years it has been the day I’ve been showered with gifts from my extended family. Over the years, my love for the holiday has remained, but the reasons for loving it have changed somewhat.
This year Noel and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with just our little family. I’m excited to try my hand at some delicious holiday dishes, but am sad that we won’t be spending the day with more of the people we love. This new change is causing me to be somewhat reflective. Noel sent me an interesting article titled “American Excess: Imagine Thanksgiving Without It.” In addition to making me feel sick about the food some people eat, the story got me thinking about what I let my celebration say about me. Previous celebrations have been fairly family centered since I could care less about football and would prefer not to feel like I’m going to die after dinner, but I know I could do a lot more to bring a spirit of gratitude to my 4th Thursday of November.
I was looking over the lesson I will be teaching to a group of 12 and 13 year old girls at church this Sunday and was struck by this quote from LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson:
“The Prophet Joseph Smith is reported to have said that one of the greatest sins for which [we] would be guilty would be ingratitude. I presume most of us have not thought of that as a serious sin. There’s a great tendency in our prayers to ask for additional blessings. Sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for the blessings already received.”
Then this morning Noel and I were laying in bed listening to NPR, as we do all mornings that we use an alarm, and I particularly enjoyed this Storycorps interview about one man’s Thanksgiving tradition. I want my Thanksgivings to be more meaningful and am still working on how to do that. Any suggestions?
3 thoughts on “An Attitude of Gratitude”
That’s exactly how I feel. thanks for the reminder.
I know I’m thankful to be spending Thanksgiving with you and Cooper. Great post.
I have been thinking a lot about how to put the world and all sale aside and think about what is most important in my life as well. Last night we read Pres. Monson talk on Gratitude, it was a great reminder to look for the small things in life. Even though we don’t have a ‘real’ job, I am so grateful that we have A job. That we have a home that is safe and warm. And of course the best husband in the world for me and the most precious little girl.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and most of all thanks for all the great times we have shared. I hope you whip up a mean turkey and sides.