This post is a little longer than some I write, so stick with it. There is some really good stuff towards the end!
I have been focusing on being grateful and noticing the tender mercies in my life. So I decided for the month of November I would write down 3 things I was grateful for each day and I asked my family to do it with me. I was so excited that by doing this I would be putting myself in the right frame of mind for the upcoming holiday season.
Then my car broke. Then an injury I have been dealing with flared up. Then I talked my friend out of us going to the gym, which didn't make me feel better. Then I looked at my finances, which also did not make me feel better. Then my normally pleasant co-worker had a bad day and work was more difficult.
Last week was terrible, it seemed to wreck my whole gratitude plan. I was discouraged and a little bit angry. I was wondering why God had impressed me to focus on gratitude and yet I had such a crummy week. That week I checked out a book from the library and while I was sitting at the mechanic's shop waiting for my car to be repaired, I pulled it out and began to read. In the story, one of the characters says something about God knowing what we need before we do and then it hit me . . . that was why I had felt impressed to study gratitude this month. God knew that I was going to run into some bumps and that I would need that extra measure of gratitude. From then on, my attitude and perception changed and I have continued to find so much to be grateful for.
In that same terrible week, my car was fixed. My worries over my injury were a false alarm. My friend and I went to the gym later in the week and then after we went back to my place and we watched The Princess Bride and it was a great evening. I talked to my mom about my finances and I realized I am doing pretty good. My co-worker expressed regret that she'd let her bad day spill over to the rest of us at the office. Everything was resolved and there were so many good things that happened too. So when I look back at that week, I'm going to remember how blessed I am by the people in my life and that God has given me so many blessings.
Guess what else happened? I wrote an email to the author of that book thanking her for being an answer to a prayer -- and she answered.
Here is what she said: "Thank you so much for your letter. Your story touched my heart and encouraged my soul. I feel like the little boy who brought his humble loaves and fishes to Jesus only to see the Master feed people he could have never reached on his own. Our God is so good! I am honored that he blessed your week through one of my characters. That is my prayer for all the stories I write, that God will use them for his kingdom, to encourage the hearts of those who read.
And you have returned the blessing to me by sharing your own story. Thank you for that. And for being such a loyal reader!
I pray that this week will be better than last for you and that your gratitude will spill over onto the people you come into contact with, so God's rich blessings may continue to spread their bounty."
God knows what we need before we do and I am grateful that He inspired me to focus on the good this month, because while my week was hard, I got through it far better by focusing on Him and seeking to be grateful than I would have by doing it all on my own. I have more hope, more joy and more peace. So I'm going to keep being grateful.
I have been focusing on being grateful and noticing the tender mercies in my life. So I decided for the month of November I would write down 3 things I was grateful for each day and I asked my family to do it with me. I was so excited that by doing this I would be putting myself in the right frame of mind for the upcoming holiday season.
Then my car broke. Then an injury I have been dealing with flared up. Then I talked my friend out of us going to the gym, which didn't make me feel better. Then I looked at my finances, which also did not make me feel better. Then my normally pleasant co-worker had a bad day and work was more difficult.
Last week was terrible, it seemed to wreck my whole gratitude plan. I was discouraged and a little bit angry. I was wondering why God had impressed me to focus on gratitude and yet I had such a crummy week. That week I checked out a book from the library and while I was sitting at the mechanic's shop waiting for my car to be repaired, I pulled it out and began to read. In the story, one of the characters says something about God knowing what we need before we do and then it hit me . . . that was why I had felt impressed to study gratitude this month. God knew that I was going to run into some bumps and that I would need that extra measure of gratitude. From then on, my attitude and perception changed and I have continued to find so much to be grateful for.
In that same terrible week, my car was fixed. My worries over my injury were a false alarm. My friend and I went to the gym later in the week and then after we went back to my place and we watched The Princess Bride and it was a great evening. I talked to my mom about my finances and I realized I am doing pretty good. My co-worker expressed regret that she'd let her bad day spill over to the rest of us at the office. Everything was resolved and there were so many good things that happened too. So when I look back at that week, I'm going to remember how blessed I am by the people in my life and that God has given me so many blessings.
Guess what else happened? I wrote an email to the author of that book thanking her for being an answer to a prayer -- and she answered.
Here is what she said: "Thank you so much for your letter. Your story touched my heart and encouraged my soul. I feel like the little boy who brought his humble loaves and fishes to Jesus only to see the Master feed people he could have never reached on his own. Our God is so good! I am honored that he blessed your week through one of my characters. That is my prayer for all the stories I write, that God will use them for his kingdom, to encourage the hearts of those who read.
And you have returned the blessing to me by sharing your own story. Thank you for that. And for being such a loyal reader!
I pray that this week will be better than last for you and that your gratitude will spill over onto the people you come into contact with, so God's rich blessings may continue to spread their bounty."
God knows what we need before we do and I am grateful that He inspired me to focus on the good this month, because while my week was hard, I got through it far better by focusing on Him and seeking to be grateful than I would have by doing it all on my own. I have more hope, more joy and more peace. So I'm going to keep being grateful.
I hope each of you has a good week, no matter what it brings. I hope you find something to be grateful for each and every day, because we are all truly blessed.
I want to share a quote from Marjorie Pay Hinckley: “A grateful heart will give you a touch of refinement that can come in no other way. . . . And when you finally develop a little gratitude in your heart, make up your mind to express it. 'Appreciation unexpressed is not appreciation.' If you can't find someone to say thank you to for something, just take a look at your toothbrush and say, 'Thank you for being. You are a wonderful little gadget.'
“'Thank you' is a wonderful phrase. Use it. It will add stature to your soul. Never let a day go by without saying thank you to someone for something - and especially to your Heavenly Father.”
I hope we can each remember to say “thank you” each day to those around us and to our Heavenly Father.
I hope we can each remember to say “thank you” each day to those around us and to our Heavenly Father.
Love,
Mailee
Mailee
