Think to Thank
I tended three of my grandkids last week while their parents were out of town. For Family Home Evening on Monday night I said: “Who wants to be glorious?” They all said they did so I quoted this scripture to them.
D & C 78:19 – “And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.”
I asked them what they thought the word glorious meant. One of them said, “Awesome in every way.” Sounded good to me.
Then we talked about what it meant to receive all things with thankfulness, …not just the good things but even the challenging aspects of our lives. After that we wondered about and discussed the things of this earth that might be “added unto” us…..and what else besides those things would constitute the “yea, more” part of the scripture.
I asked: “Is God telling us to say thank you to Him or do you think more than that is required?” We decided that truly taking the time to notice and appreciate the many miracles of our lives is wonderful. Acknowledging that it all comes from God is also important. Acting on our gratitude by serving others is even better.
As we started to work on memorizing the scripture I told them they should try saying some prayers of gratitude this month and just thank God for some of the things we don’t usually think to thank him for. Leave out all the “please bless this and please bless that.”
As I put my 8-year old grandson to bed, I listened to his prayer of thanks. He did a great job! He said thanks for their home, his bedroom, his bed, warm blankets and a pillow. But I really knew he had taken the lesson to heart when he said, “Thank you for the trees and the leaves and the carbon dioxide they get and the oxygen they give so we can breathe.” J I almost laughed out loud!
(Somewhere there’s a second or third grade teacher who would be very pleased to know that one of her students remembers something she taught him!)
But he had the right spirit! There are so many blessings, and “Ordinary Miracles” that happen in our lives every day that we take for granted. Sarah McLachlan sings a song by that name. You can listen to it on YouTube – click here.
Some of the lyrics say:
It’s not that unusual when everything is beautiful.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
The sky knows when it’s time to snow.
Don’t need to teach a seed to grow.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
Life is like a gift they say – wrapped up for you everyday.
Open up and find a way to give some of your own.
Isn’t it remarkable …like every time a raindrop falls?
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
Birds in winter have their fling…will always make it home by spring….
Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night.
It’s just another ordinary miracle today.
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
~ Sister Pat Barton