Gratitude

Because of my joyful youth on the farm, I have a special appreciation for the words of Timothy Dexter, “An ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from.” Do you pause to look upward and to remember, or do you forget as swine or even as one of the nine lepers who remembered not to give praise and thanks for great and even miraculous blessings?

“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.“ While some never forget the gracious hands, which have preserved them in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened them, others vainly imagine that their blessings were produced by their own superior wisdom and virtue.

Intoxicated with unbroken success, we can become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, to proud to pray to the God who made us. Let us never be guilty of failing to praise and acknowledge God when we accomplish some useful purpose, or become instrumental in some part in helping others. Rather, let us in all things acknowledge our gratitude to our kind, merciful, and wise Creator who extends to us blessings of life, breath, and opportunity.

Gratitude is to the soul, as the gentle air is refreshing to the body; simple beauties do not escape its notice. Grateful souls that pause to look up bask in the stars by night and sing praises as the sun rises at dawn; such souls trace beautiful landscapes of sunsets into minds and hearts, simply because they pause to remember to look upward and to behold!

A man from East met a man from West. Asked East, “Please sir, describe to me the grandeur of the Grand Canyons—of the great Seven Wonders of the World; I am traveling far to see them.” Replies West, “I cannot, for I have never seen the Grand Canyon, though it be but a few miles from where I live.” West then asks East, “Tell me I pray thee, how does Lady Liberty inspire thee?” “I travel far to see her.” East replies, “I’ve lived in Manhattan for much of my life, yet have never seen her.” East and West parted, none the wiser… The apostle Paul said, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Surely the greater wealth then is contentment with what one has.

Gratitude is one of the deepest and purest expressions of faith; it is one way we fulfill the command to acknowledge God in all things. By comparison, ingratitude renders every gift we receive profitless to us, as the Grand Canyon was to West and Lady Liberty to East. Ingratitude can be overcome by learning to look up and to see. Thankful and heartfelt expressions are universally accepted and understood from culture to culture. As with any muscle, the blessings of gratitude ebb and flow by diligent efforts to recognize, remember, and express gratitude and thanks.

They are happiest who live in thanksgiving. To sacred holy writers a thankful state is described as the secret to opening wide heavens gates. It enables the faith in us to be made clean every wit. The ability to feel gratitude for God’s goodness, mercy, and forgiveness is the seed to the very faith that moves mountains and raises the dead.

Gratitude expressed to God brings a calming peace to our souls; it brings a peace that helps us to overcome the pain of adversity and failure. It is recognition for what we have now, without reference to past or future. When we express gratitude, not only for the good things in life, but for opposition and adversity, we recognize that all that occurs to us is gauged for our best good and eternal growth. We put our lives in God’s hands, trusting Him completely, and feeling and expressing our true gratitude through our faith towards Him.

Do you adequately remember? My mother, who was raised without running water and who had to leave the warmth of the house in wintertime to sit upon a cold outhouse seat, is forever grateful for indoor plumbing. A generation later, most fail to adequately remember to be grateful for what to often become entitlements to us.

How grateful are we when we receive a new suit or dress? Do we remember our gratitude for long, or do we too easily shift from what we have received to what we want but do not yet have? When Israel too easily forgot her blessings—flocks, herds, lands, and lives were often lost. Great difficulty restores memory to most, but we are far better off to choose to remember, rather than to be reminded in such a manner.

How do we remember? Jesus taught that the Holy Ghost shall teach us all things and will bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever we have previously received or learned. As we exercise faith in our sweet hour of prayer--to remember, whether our circumstances are favorable or unfavorable, the Holy Ghost restores God’s sweet kindnesses and tender mercies to our remembrance. As we so pause and reflect, we can experience a flood of memories, as well as healing and enriching gratitude. We begin to see the Lord’s hand in our life at every turn, and our faith in Him grows upon a sold foundation.

Remembrance is the seed of gratitude, and gratitude is the seed of generosity. Gratitude for the remission of sins is the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ, which bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all saints shall dwell with God.” Oh then, remember!

The requirements for receiving prosperity are to obey God’s commandments and to live in a state of thankful remembrance and gratitude. Let us remember and write in our hearts—our songs of praise and gratitude. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord, for he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of the earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more…

Let us become as the noble ancient ones who wept for their great blessings and with loud voices shouted for joy… Praise the Lord with singing, with dancing, with your harps, and with your trumpets, and with your instrument of ten strings; and with a prayer of praise. For surely the Lord looketh from heaven to behold the sons of men; and as a righteous man marrieth a virgin and looks after and cares for her, so will the Lord be a bridegroom to those who praise him and keep His commandments. And they who remember Him in all things shall be called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord: and shall become a city not forsaken, even Zion.

Health, peace, prosperity, and redemption is the banquet reserved for the Grateful!