November 24, 2016

Years ago Janeen Brady wrote a song called "Gratitude Attitude".  It had an impact on me then and still does today.  The song is part of a little book she wrote called Gratitude that is part of a series call "Standing Tall".  It teaches important principles and characteristics like obedience, courage and of course gratitude.  Over the years I have discovered for myself what an important characteristic gratitude is and why we should strive to live with gratitude in our hearts. 

On the outside you think that gratitude is just being kind to others in recognizing how they help you are being nice to you.  It makes them feel good when you show gratitude.  They want to do more when they feel appreciated.  It is certainly the best way to get your kids to obey and do their chores.  It works far better than constantly being on their case and yelling at them.  I know from experience because I was an expert on the yelling way and that didn't work at all.  Once you start showing appreciation they are more willing to do what they are supposed to do.

Over the years I discovered another reason why having gratitude in your heart and expressing it is a benefit to me personally (and to you).  After I heard in a lesson about a Thankful Journal I decided to get it a try.  It was at a time in my life when I didn't feel I had a lot to be thankful for.  We were experiencing a lot of trials and hardships and life was hard.  I started writing down one thing to be thankful for everyday.  Some days I really had to think hard.  My one rule was I couldn't put the same thing down very often (i.e. I'm thankful for a beautiful day).  It caused me to not only stretch, but more importantly it caused me to start recognizing the blessings that I receive EVERY day from a loving Heavenly Father.  The side benefit I discovered was how I started to feel.  My trials didn't go away but like the people of Alma, I was able to "bear up [my] burdens with ease, and [I] did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."  

After the year came to an end I stopped my journal and soon discovered how heavy my burdens became again.  After repeating this process of journal, no journal for several years I finally realized if I wanted to get through life and be able to "bear up [my] burdens with ease" I was going to have to keep a Thankful Journal for the rest of my life.  And it works.  My burdens have not gone away, but I am able to bear them and still find joy.  I strive to live with Gratitude in my heart everyday.  Oh, I still get depressed, but when I write in my journal and have to put down something to be grateful for, I find my depression lifts and I feel the love of my Heavenly Father.

"So please have a gratitude attitude;

Learn to be grateful for all that you enjoy.

When you have a gratitude attitude

You are the happiest kind of girl or boy"

(Janeen Brady, Standin' Tall with Gratitude)