Lesson for August 31, 2014

Lesson for August 31, 2014 Today our lesson was about President Uchtdorf’s talk, “Grateful in Any Circumstances.” Our lesson was given by Kristine Hanson. For some our burdens are joyful, such as raising small children. For some, our burdens are more worrisome with illness, finances, loved ones, careers, etc. President Uchtdorf said we are unique, but there is something we can do to make our lives more joyful and that is to be more grateful. Kristine said that her roommate, Kathy, does not allow her to pity herself. Kathy said she can see and walk and is not in a concentration camp. So Kristine has to pity herself in secret. President Uchtdorf said there is a difference between being thankful for things and being thankful IN our circumstances. Kristine said that when she was a new professor, she was in charge of the grad students who taught freshman English. One woman in particular had terrible troubles, an ill child, a husband who cheated on her and other things, as well. She had such a positive attitude that she succeeded, got a master’s, a Phd, and a full-time job at BYU. Even as her son died, she remained positive. She truly put aside the bottle of bitterness and drank from the goblet of gratitude. Others in the class told of people they know who have been in difficult circumstances and are still grateful. President Uchtdorf said that gratitude can gentle our troubles and give us better perspective. Being grateful doesn’t mean that we don’t see our problems, but we can see beyond them to the promises the Lord has made to us. We are commanded to be grateful. Commandments are opportunities to receive blessings, so being grateful we can experience true joy. True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. Adele Hickman said her friend died last week, because she took care of her paralyzed husband for twenty years and yet was the kindest person. Laura said her husband’s grandmother used to say, “This too shall pass.” We don’t need to see the Savior to see the bright future that the Redeemer of the world has in store for us. Two weeks ago, Kristine extended a challenge to feel gratitude any time we wanted to complain. She used to be a real complainer. Her mother used to say to her “You’d complain if you were going to be hanged with a new rope.” She has one negative thought that was a habit and she tried to think of a grateful thought instead and she found it helped. Dorothy Davis said that this last week, she was slightly upset with her husband and she replace it with the thought that she was grateful he had not died of the heart attack he had several years ago. Margaret Cook said her husband was ill for over two years and he kept saying, “I am so sorry.” She was glad she was able to care for him. When he died, his family was around him and they decided not to grieve, but to rejoice and they had the best funeral. Jessica Lewis said that her daughter had three recitals in a two-week period and by the time Jessica was through, she was so tired with carting around the family to lessons in American Fork. She was reminded that she had committed to be grateful and she was overwhelmed with the feeling that she is blessed to be physically able and have a good family. Linda Campbell has had a hard time at the Scera Shell, but she has told the crew that they have been good, except one who has been a pain. Heather Cantrell has had a hard time, but people are helping her out with poems. Linda Harker said people have really heavy burdens, and they should let people help carry your through them. Sister Bahr said she had a trial with a teenager, but she knew she could not handle it by herself and so she prayed about it. A friend came to see her and they shared the problem. The friend had gone through the same thing and gave her good ideas, including a DVD to watch, and things have worked out much better than she thought. She knows the Lord answered her prayer for help. It is important for us to share with our friends. Laura Campbell said she had read the talk before and felt it strengthened her testimony so much. Audrey said that being cheerful and grateful rubs off on others. It’s contagious. We are lifted by those who is in a good mood. For a year-and-a-half Kristine was the dressing room coordinator at the temple and had to stay very late until all patrons had gone. One night she got a note on her car from some Young Women who had visited the temple and put thank you notes on all the cars. The note said, “Thank you for your service.” It lifted her. Bonnie said she had an amazing experience. Her husband has had several surgeries and a son who is bed-ridden. She was playing the jewel matching game and she felt that someone had been praying for her. Suddenly on the screen, she got the message that she had won every level and she felt like she had won every level in the game of life. Kristine’s mother raised nine children with never enough money and she sang through her work. She often expressed gratitude. When she was dying of a brain tumor, she always thanked the nurses, even though she was in a lot of pain. She never complained, but had a beautiful attitude. President Uchtdorf quoted the scripture that said that the things of the earth shall be added to those who are grateful. Kristine prays that we will always have a grateful heart and have our burdens lightened.