I am Thankful For . . .

Life is good ain't it? 'Tis the season to be grateful. Let's all express our gratitude, whether it be in a letter, a phone call, an email, or prayer. Bonnie D. Parkin said, “Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but to express it.”

Life can be super tough. I know many of us are going through hard times with this economy and other life situations. One of the most important times to show our gratitude, and also the hardest time—is during our trials. Trials are hard, especially when you are in the midst of them. It’s easier to look back and say you were grateful for the experience and learned a lot. But we need to be thankful DURING the trial and realize it’s only for our good; try to be grateful for the opportunity to grow. The Lord said, “Be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.” And in Doctrine and Covenants 78:18-19 it says, “And he who receiveth ALL THINGS with thankfulness shall be made glorious.”

To be grateful during tribulation means to have a broken heart and contrite spirit, to be humble; to realize things you cannot change, willingness to turn everything over to the Lord—even when we do not understand. David O. McKay said, “We find in the bitter chill of adversity the real test of our gratitude…which…goes beneath the surface of life, whether sad or joyous.”

I hope we can all use this time of year to express our gratitude to our parents, friends, neighbors, leader, teachers, and especially to our God. Because life is beautiful isn't it?