The Beginning!

I'm never really very good with keeping or remembering new years resolutions, however, after reading a post entitled "Eucharisteo" over at Chocolate on my Cranium, I was inspired to make one new years resolution and that resolution is to give thanks!

I have heard loads of people say they keep daily gratitude journals and how much joy it brings them.  It's never tickled my fancy before now.  Below is some of what I read that got me so inspired!

President Henry B. Eyring has been keeping a gratitude journal for years. He would write a few lines every single night. Of this experience he shared, "Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."

This one question “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” is powerful. The answers even more so. Why?

"To name a thing is to manifest the meaning and value God gave to it." (Alexander Schmemann)

Naming the blessings helps us see ourselves and those around us as God sees us. Giving thanks, counting my blessings, has changed my perspective, my focus. I no longer look inward. My eyes are drawn outward, upward to God.  In that drawing I am able to see the needs of others around me. In my limited realm of experience I have learned that in giving thanks I want to give.

Seeing as I've managed to keep up with blogging, I figured why not have a Gratitude Blog;)  I know, I know, another blog!

I read the post above and knew I had to start my gratitude journal, I want to feel the joy that comes from consciously seeing Gods hand in my life and remembering these things always, for reasons that Elder Eyring gives in his talk mentioned above... "Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him."

So my resolution is to write something everyday that I am grateful for, just one thing that has made me happy, to remind me of how blessed I really am, even when I feel like everything is falling apart.  I am sure this will really benefit me this year as we go through our little issues with Cooper too.