Gratitude for Everyday Blessings

     It only takes a day of feeling BLAH to really begin to appreciate the simple gifts of life:  your bed, a warm house, a hot bath, simple food, someones expression of concern.  Having spent the day yesterday feeling not so great, it was nice to have those essentially mundane, but oh so meaningful conveniences.  In fact, I know these are things that people in some situations would regard as luxuries.

     Most of us in the United States are blessed to enjoy the necessities of life.  I wonder how often we think of those who have no roof, no medical attention, no wholesome, delicious food, no hot water.  There are so many needs in the world that go unmet.  If we were to ask ourselves, in all soberness, what needs we have that are  unfulfilled, most of us would have to confess, "not  many."   Lots of wants may be hanging out, unaddressed, but few, if any, needs.   We are so incredibly blessed!

     In my mother's personal history, she writes about her childhood during the Great Depression:

               "One day Mama went downtown to get a bag of flour.  When she got to the

              store, the storekeeper told her he didn't have any, but she saw a bag of flour

Children of the Great Depression

              sitting in the corner and mentioned it to him.  He told her he 

              couldn't sell it to her because it had gotten wet.  She told him

              she would take it anyway and offered him a quarter. He 

              refused the quarter, but told her to take the flour.  

              She lugged that 25 pound bag home.  When she had used 

              about a third of the bag for biscuits and pancakes they began 

              to taste moldy, so she changed from baking powder to baking 

              soda to camouflage the taste.  After a while the taste got so 

              bad she had to give up using the flour for cooking and saved 

              the rest for wall paper paste.

                  "I remember many mornings going to school after eating a breakfast of chocolate

              pudding and canned milk.  This was not very nutritious but it filled our bellies."

     These simply are not conditions we think of as we eat our bacon and eggs or purchase baked goods from the supermarket.  Hopefully, we will never be as desperate or need to get as creative as my grandmother.  Hopefully we will never know the deprivation that so many people experienced during that horrible time in the 1930s. 

     I believe that, for the vast majority of us, our needs are pretty well taken care of.   Pausing a moment to assess how blessed we are is a humbling thing.  Giving thanks for those blessings, a measure of our recognition of the very fortunate situation in which we live.  Don't wait until you have a "sick day" to realize the gifts you enjoy.  Take time today to express gratitude for the seemingly simple, but ever so wonderful comforts of life!

TODAY'S  INSPIRED  QUOTATION:
"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."  Author Unknown

Photo Credit:  FDR Presidential Library & Museum

What If?

Bringing a Treat to a Friend

     I wonder, what if everyone decided--I mean absolutely everyone--to spend the next 24 hours committed to doing, saying, and thinking positive things.  No backbiting, no fault-finding, no criticizing, no unkind jokes, remarks or thoughts.  What if everyone spent that 24 hours looking for the good in others, overlooking faults, helping a neighbor or friend, volunteering for an hour, cleaning up someone else's mess without complaining, bringing someone a treat, saying "thank you",  letting someone else go first in traffic or at the supermarket.  I wonder how those actions would change the world and the level of happiness we all experience? While we can't create that kind of positive wave worldwide, we can practice it in our own life, and influence our own home, friends and workplace. 

     Negative perspectives seem so much a part of our culture.  You can't scan down your Facebook page without seeing someone complaining about the president of our country. I can't say that I'm a fan, either, but I wonder, wouldn't it be in the best interest of all of us if we prayed for him instead, or redirected our negative energy to pray for those who might be able to facilitate the changes we want?  There are positive ways to approach negative situations, and loving ways to consider people with whom we disagree.  We are, after all, all God's children.  He loves our enemies--"flawed" as they are--as much as He loves us.

     Closer to home, it's also difficult to find a 4-way stop where everyone is amicable about who should go next.  We're in such a hurry that we've somehow come to believe we are "entitled" to skip ahead in line, or be waited on right now.  Everyone should think like we think, act like we act, believe as we believe, and if they don't, surely, there is something wrong with them!  

     Doesn't it relax and uplift you when someone breaks that chain of negativity by smiling, acting courteously, stepping aside so you can go first, holding a door open for you, saying "thank you" for a kindness you've extended, treats you like you really matter?  Surely we can all find ample reasons for taking offense, finding fault, or being irritable.  It's our most basic nature to be selfish.  But what if, for just one day, we could all set that basic nature aside and rise to a higher state of awareness, love, and gratitude?

      On the blog, How to Raise Your Vibration, writer Sabrina Reber talks about the power we each possess to influence the people and the world around us.  In a post dated June 15, 2011, she talks about her belief that so much negative energy and criticism is projected to our national leaders that we actually inhibit their ability to do their jobs as effectively as they might.  She says, "WE aren't using our energy/power of intention/love/positivity to help our leaders fulfill what WE want. We spend too much of our energy focusing on what we don't want."  

     Because she was such a loving, peaceable person, Mother Teresa was once asked why she never attended anti-war demonstrations.  She said, "I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."   Like I said, there are positive ways to approach negative situations.

      So, I'm going to make a bold suggestion:  for the next 24 hours think positively; refrain from criticism; find a positive way to think about some negative situation; perform some loving act of kindness; smile at someone; say thank-you every opportunity you get; look for the good in others.   It won't cure all the ills in the world, but it will make your little corner of creation a happier, more loving place.  You will be ever grateful you did.  I promise!

TODAY'S  AWESOME  BLESSING:  I've been reading about the life of Mother Teresa--that alone is a wonderful blessing.  In addition, I found this quotation.  She said, "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing."   This reminded me of the value of our small but positive efforts. We can't all be super stars, but we can all do simple things that improve the quality of life and bless the people around us!

Missionary of Charity holding child: Digital Photography School; 17-images-of-poverty
Bringing a Treat to a Friend: public domain photo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

An Uplifting and Encouraging Weekend

     For me, this was an especially uplifting weekend as our church held its Semi-annual General Conference.  Twice a year, each year, our members are given two days of instruction--an opportunity to be inspired,  assess our lives, and refocus our priorities.  What seemed to stand out most to me was the counsel to do away with the habits and tendencies that keep me from being a true follower of Jesus Christ. Now this is not new counsel.  As Christians, every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made covenants at baptism to be a witness for Christ and to follow Him.  However, as very fallible mortals we sometimes get caught up in our frustrations and in the things of this world, and we forget the very sacred promise we have made.
      Maybe you're a little like me. Sometimes I get frustrated because there are failings I've had for years that I seem to overcome for awhile--sometimes even a long while--but then, in moments of intense stress, they reappear.  I have to wonder, will I ever really overcome my faults or do they just go unchallenged for a season or two?  As I assess myself, I am reminded of the words of Ghandi, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
     There is nothing that makes me more sad than to think that I am not living up to my promise, or that someone might look at me and be led to believe that I am not a Christian.  Yet, I know my weaknesses, and I've had to ask myself,  "How like Christ am I, or am I too often very much unlike Him?"   I admit to glaring deficiencies.  Happily, this conference, like all others, gave specific instructions for helping me do better. The spirit conveyed by each speaker was so positive that I actually found myself, not feeling defeated or discouraged, but believing I can accomplish this.  I can be more loving, more patient, more prayerful, more gentle, more forgiving, more faithful, more attentive to the needs of others.  I can, in short, be more aligned with my promise at baptism to stand as His witness.  Though I may never claim perfection, I can do these things more consistently.
      I was especially impressed by the counsel to "look up".
http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/10?lang=eng&vid=1194937426001&cid=8
When the burdens of life seem particularly heavy, it is easy to look down, to feel discouraged or unworthy, or angry.  In looking up, we can focus on the true source of strength, Jesus Christ, and be renewed with courage and hope.  We can be reminded that we do not have to do anything we do alone!
     Perhaps I was in a particularly searching frame of mind, but I heard many specific suggestions given for remembering the Savior and becoming more like Him.  Now, most of these are not new, but I could implement some of them more often.  Among them: 

• Memorizing some scripture passages that are meaningful to me, realizing those passages will provide inspiration and direction for my life

• Looking for specific answers to my problems as I study the scriptures, trusting that the Holy Ghost will communicate with me, giving me the guidance I need
• More diligently praying for and serving others
• Realizing that my challenges are a part of my eternal growth, not a punishment
• Recording personal impressions and insights and following the direction they supply
• Recognizing the blessings I have received and giving liberal thanks for those gifts
• Being more patient and charitable--for no other spiritual gift can compensate for a lack of charity  

     When the stresses of life are upon us, it can be so easy to forget who we are at our best, and who is our perfect example.  I am so grateful for the messages I heard this weekend. http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/10?lang=eng
They remind me that it is possible to try a little harder, do a little better, and become a little more like the my Savior.  I will probably always struggle.  I'm not perfect, though I try to be loving.  I am not always thoughtful, though I strive to be kind.  I'm not consistently calm, though I endeavor to be patient and loving.  Luckily, I have the best teacher--Jesus Christ, and the perfect pattern--His life.
     The  talks I heard this weekend were such great reminders because they were given in a spirit of love and kindness--which is a perfect reflection of His spirit.  The spirit I want to emulate.


TODAY'S  GENTLE  REMINDER:  "Be not weary in well-doing, for...out of small things proceedeth that which is great."  (D&C 64:33;
2 Thes. 3:13; Gal.6:9).