The True Gifts of Life
Many years ago, and for many years I had difficulty with the concept of gratitude. Not that I wasn’t grateful for the blessings I had, indeed I was, but I felt guilty for wanting so much more. I wanted to stop working, I greatly desired that my husband could find a job that would bring that about. I prayed, I cried, and prayed some more. I think the only thing I prayed and cried more for was the gift of more children. The guilt was horrible, I felt so ungrateful to want even more blessings. After all, I had a warm home, a good job working with the most precious of God’s children, I wonderful husband, two sweet children, loving parents, good friends, fairly decent health, great sisters, a brother I adore, and so many more I couldn’t name them all at once. How could I possibly want more? The guilt tore me up inside, and every time a talk was given on gratitude and thanksgiving, I would cringe and feel so hypocritical. This went on for several years, until our wise bishop, now our stake president challenged the stake to read the Book of Mormon over a two month time span, from the 1st of November to the end of December. One day, while visiting our in-laws over Thanksgiving I was reading in the book of Alma and the answer came to my eyes and my heart. Many times I had looked and searched through topics on Gratitude in my struggle to understand my feelings without ever coming to a satisfactory conclusion. Now this verse touched my soul and I wept in renewed gratitude for the Love of God.
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
What a marvelous answer, it is okay to want to have more, as long as we are always giving Thanks for what we do have. There was my answer, since then I have never felt guilty for what I pray for, as long as I am grateful for what I do have. This lifted a terrible and heavy burden from my shoulders, and lifted my spirits so much. Oh how my soul sings for the kindness and love shown to me by our Creator. Oh what wonders, and joy that life brings, when it is filled with gratitude and Thanksgiving. Miracles occur, and our lives can be blessed. All I had to do was seek and I found the answer so sweet, that my life has been different from that day on. Always remember, that it is okay, that gratitude is that praising God for all that we have, and He truly wants to give us more! Feed your soul, and as hard as life can be, you will always have the blessings of the spirit, the true gifts of life.
By Tanya
