About this blog

"If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness." -Joseph B. Wirthlin

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Choice to Be Grateful

The December 2011 Ensign (a magazine produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is filled with stories of the birth of Christ and how it blesses our lives each day.  I found it particularly interesting that the First Presidency message in the beginning was about gratitude.  President Eyring says, "Sometimes it is hard for us to be sufficiently grateful for the greatest gifts we receive: the birth of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, the promise of the resurrection, the opportunity to enjoy eternal life with our families, the Restoration of the gospel with the priesthood and its keys....We all can make the choice to give thanks in prayer and to ask God for direction to serve others for Him--especially during this time of year when we celebrate the Savior's birth."

The end of the message contains a "gratitude challenge" to write 100 things we are grateful for, broken down into 10 categories of 10 each.  So here's my list.  I encourage you all to do the same as you prepare for this Christmas season.

  1. Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.
    1. Walking around
    2. My fainting spells have significantly decreased
    3. I can run!...in moderation :)
    4. The chance to sleep every night
    5. My mental capacity to learn (that's physical, right?)
    6. My foot and shoulder healed ok after being hit by the car on my mission
    7. I am physically able to serve others
    8. I never have to go hungry
    9. Playing soccer
    10. Swimming
  2. Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.
    1. Sewing machine
    2. Winter coat
    3. Laptop
    4. Cell phone
    5. My car
    6. My parent's piano
    7. Digital camera
    8. Shoes
    9. Banana chair
    10. Video camera
  3. Write 10 living people you are grateful for. (more like 10 living groups of people...haha  :)
    1. Mom and Dad (I know that's 2...but I'm grateful for LOTS of people)
    2. My brothers (Chris, Michael, Malcolm)
    3. President Thomas S. Monson
    4. Tri-family :)
    5. Roommates (Susie, Katie, Bailey, Betsy, Melissa)
    6. Companions from the mission (Emi, Crystle, Leslie, Kassi, Rebecca, Lorina, Priscila)
    7. Bishop and Sister Heiss
    8. Karen Ernst
    9. Marsha Green and co-workers (Sarah, Carley, Heidi, April)
    10. President and Sister Bahr
    11. This may be illegal to have a #11, but I'm grateful for YOU because you care to read my random blog :)
  4. Write 10 deceased people you are grateful for.
    1. Jesus Christ
    2. Anthony (my brother)
    3. Papa Chuck
    4. Joseph Smith
    5. Eve (yes, as in Adam and Eve :)
    6. Gordon B. Hinckley
    7. Lupita Arenas
    8. Cassee Pitts
    9. Heath Ledger
    10. and Freud (haha)
  5. Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.
    1. Pine trees
    2. Warmth
    3. Mountains
    4. Sea otters (they're in nature...that counts, right?)
    5. Inspiration I get when I'm in nature
    6. Irises
    7. Streams
    8. Photosynthesis
    9. Most animals I encounter on a daily basis don't want to eat me
    10. Freshly fallen snow
  6. Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.
    1. Finishing my bachelor's degree
    2. Hanging out with co-workers
    3. Kneaders all-you-can-eat French toast
    4. Sappily cute holiday movies on Lifetime
    5. Hot chocolate
    6. Great music (thank you Beyonce, Lil Wayne, and Jay Sean haha)
    7. Finishing my roommate's wedding dress
    8. Friends who text me
    9. MarioKart
    10. I have been graced with the presence of my roommates :)
  7. Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.
    1. Temples
    2. Home :)
    3. Disneyland
    4. California, in general
    5. New Jersey!
    6. Hefei, China
    7. North Pole (but only if Santa is there)
    8. Bakersfield
    9. American Fork
    10. Temple Square
  8. Write 10 modern inventions you are grateful for.
    1. Microwaves
    2. Internet
    3. Airplanes
    4. Running water
    5. Toilets
    6. DVD's/DVD players
    7. Whiteboards
    8. Pandora
    9. Electricity
    10. Blenders
  9. Write 10 foods you are grateful for.
    1. Pizza
    2. Chocolate
    3. No-bake cookies
    4. Green beans
    5. Papa a la huancayina
    6. Pasta
    7. In 'N Out
    8. Mangos
    9. Taquitos
    10. Yogurt
  10. Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.
    1. Birth of Jesus Christ
    2. Priesthood blessings
    3. Eternal families
    4. Book of Mormon and other scriptures
    5. Living prophet
    6. Repentance
    7. Gift of the Holy Ghost
    8. Mission!/Missionary work
    9. Plan of Salvation
    10. Indexing/Genealogy
So there you have it!  Good luck with your own list.  Merry Christmas!
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)