Thankful

I have a fascination with words and their meaning.  Isn't it amazing how we use words to describe other words, and if we don't understand those words we find other words to describe them?  But at some point in our lives (usually as children) we learn to understand the unspoken meaning behind the words we are saying.  Parents spend most of their child's early years reminding their children to say please and thank you when asking for or receiving anything, but when does that child actually understand they are being polite and kind when using those words?  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What you are speaks so loud, that I cannot hear what you say".  Words are incredibly important as a form of expression and communication, but they express our thoughts, intentions, actions, character and dreams, all of which would exist even without words. Sometimes silence can be more expressive and communicate more than a thousand spoken words.  Have you ever stood in a sacred spot and fell silent because no words could describe how you felt?  Have you ever seen someone who said they stood for one thing but their actions showed something entirely different?  Which do you walk away believing, the words or the actions?  When you are asked to be kind or polite, it's not just a word, it's action and character.

This is where my fascination with words comes from, when I look up the definition of a word, I don't look for understanding of just the words, but the feeling, idea and actions behinds the words.

Keeping all of that in mind, let me share the definition of the word thankful: being conscious of a benefit received.  Take a minute and think about what that means to you.

Let me share what came to my mind.  In order for us to be thankful for something, we have to understand or be conscious of why we are thankful for it.  I am thankful for my husband because he strives to serve the Lord first and foremost in his life, he loves me unconditionally, he takes care of me, encourages me to be the best form of myself, he is my best friend and my eternal companion.  I am thankful to be sealed to him in the temple because I know those covenants, through our faithfulness, will enable us to be together through eternity.  I am thankful for the gospel because I know by being obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel I can qualify for exaltation and eternal life.  If I was not a member of the church it would be hard to be thankful for the gospel, covenants, temples, a living prophet, the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc..  You can't be thankful of something you are not aware of.  As blessings come into our lives we have the opportunity to express our thanks as we become aware of them.  The lyrics of the hymn, Count Your Many Blessings, teaches us the importance of remembering our blessings:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Chorus
Count your blessings,
name them one by one, Count your blessings,
see what God hath done! Count your blessings,
name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Chorus

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings.
Wealth can never buy your reward in heaven,
nor your home on high.

Chorus

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

I believe the understanding behind the meaning of a word comes because of the Light of Christ which is given to all men and women when we come into this world.  As we try to stay close to the spirit, we are able to discern more clearly when something is right or wrong.  When we see someone showing kindness we know through the Light of Christ that it is truth and good, likewise, when we see dishonesty or cruelty, we can feel that it is wrong.  When we remember the things we are thankful for, and why we are thankful, we emulate the goodness we feel from a thankful heart.  When we allow ourselves to forget to be thankful, our hearts begin to harden and it becomes more difficult for us to discern between right and wrong and soon, our actions begin to follow in hardness. 

We have a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father, that He will send peace in our lives as we remember to be thankful for the gifts He has given us, big and small.  As we remember the things we have been given already, our eyes will open and we will see even more of the tender mercies sent from our Father in Heaven.

Being thankful is a characteristic.  Is it one of yours?  I'm going to give you a homework assignment, write down everything you are thankful for, and as you do, think about or write down why you are thankful for it.  I promise you, it will surprise you what the Lord has done.  

Happy Thanksgiving!
All my love,
~Taryn