Lesson for November 3, 2013 by Amy Young on Gratitude

Relief Society Lesson for November 3, 2013 Our lesson today was taught by Amy Young, our Relief Society president, on Gratitude. She read a poem about gratitude for simple things that mean we have friends, homes, and such. Aldous Huxley said that human beings have a great capacity for taking things for granted. Various sisters said things. We breath air and our hearts beat. We have a beautiful chapel. We have clean water. We have children. We have ward friends who care for us and love us. Just to have the gospel and fast Sunday and all the blessings that Heavenly Father gives us. What are we taking for granted? When we look at them, it lightens our hearts. We have modern conveniences that let us communicate, wash, dry, clean, and lots of other things. Amy’s daughter broke her leg last summer and she went back to school and said, “The kids at school have no idea they are lucky they can walk.” D&C 46:32 You must give thanks for whatsoever God gives you, is essentially what one said. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 said we should also give thanks. One sister said that God went to the trouble to make this earth and then handed it over to us. We should be thankful for it because it is a gift. President Monson, in October 2010, talked of a grateful heart. He said that being grateful requires effort. If it doesn’t require effort, no good will come out of it. What kind of effort does it take to have a grateful heart. Some people have that attitude and it comes easily. Thank you notes and prayers take some time and effort. It is a habit and an attitude. Sister Bahr’s mother-in-law goes to a lot of work to make things happen that are good for her grandchildren. So Sister Bahr wonders what will happen if she is no longer there. Sister Judd said that when her children are in a critical mood, they play a game where they say, “I am grateful for something that starts with D.” And sometimes this gets hilarious. Sometimes children turn out the way their families behave, so if people are critical and cross, the children will become that way. Elder Bednar said that gratitude is a spiritual gift that enables our appreciation for what we have that constrains our desires for what we want. Sister Hickman said she picked up her son from his mission in Ecuador and on the way from the airport he mentioned that we are so rich. Amy’s brother served in the Philippines and never saw such happy people, even though they aren’t wealthy. Feeling envious is a dark feeling. How can we switch our focus? Making list of our blessings is a good way. Sister Lewis is reading Pollyanna and thinks that her habit of finding something good in every thing, even if it is bad there is a good thing. Emily Campbell said they have books in different parts of the house, a blessings book and other things and each kid has a gratitude book. Write on the bathroom mirror things like, “What am I grateful for today?” “What is my attitude today?” Do we see what is lacking, like the disciples before Jesus took the loaves and the fishes and gave thanks for them and a miracle occurred. Notice it was after Jesus gave thanks. When we are grateful for what God gives us, he can give us more. Laura Campbell said that part of our human experience is to mourn and her friend said that all she needed was someone to listen and validate. She didn’t need favors or material things, just someone to listen and be with her in mourning phase. Although we need to be grateful, we also need to be realistic and then maybe we can move on. We shouldn’t push someone to move on before they are ready. Paige Gibson said that sometimes when we make our list, we realize there is more to add to the list and more and more. Recognizing what we have is sometimes the miracle. Charles Schwab said he never met anyone who did not do better under approval than under criticism. In order to teach gratitude in our families, we need to foster appreciation. If we want others to continue doing what they are doing, we need to show appreciation. President Eyring gave a talk in 2008 where he said he kept a list of blessings and how he had seen the hand of God in his life and the lives of his loved ones. More than gratitude grew in his heart; his testimony grew. Some have books and some do other things. Jenni Harker writes funny things that happen during bad times. Writing these things down help us remember. If it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen. If you are struggling with another person, if you write down what you like about them, things get better. President Monson said that sincerely giving thanks opens the windows of heaven and helps us feel God’s love. We can lift ourselves and others as well if we focus on our blessings. Jesus Christ taught us how to pray and live. Let us obey his words and thank him for our blessings.