So, I have not been as faithful in updating my blog/journal...My friend and I have been having daily chats of a similar nature, so I have neglected this... but I have "remembered" today and have a little bit I can share.
In church, we discussed gratitude and happiness - in any circumstance. A girl mentioned how in her family, they discussed gratitude in prayers - and that when they say they are grateful for something, they add a "because..." - which helps us move beyond the rote and robotic prayers we can easily fall into. I am excited to use this in my prayers. As President Uchtdorf mentions, gratitude is a catalyst for all other virtues. I believe that by being truly grateful, I can find ways to move forward in faith.
We discussed that in any circumstance we can praise God - because of His eternal plan for us, His infinite love, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and so many other things. We may struggle in our circumstances, and it can be hard to be grateful when we aren't "pleased" with how things are going - but eventually - we can have gratitude in the faith that one day we will be grateful for the circumstance, even if we don't want to live it again. We can be grateful in our attitude, and not just confined to a rote list of memorized items. Gratitude is an expression of faith, and will propel us forward as we strive to learn, improve, and become like God.
Here is a wonderful talk on gratitude by President Uchtorf of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Grateful in Any Circumstances
