talksgratitudeanne (**)

I am sure we all have had an opportunity to reflect on the many blessings and reasons for which you are grateful and have cause to be thankful.  Being grateful brings joy.  The holidays are a great time to be grateful for all of the things we receive and get.  At holidays we should focus on the things we are most grateful for — family, love, traditions, homes, and food.  Do we sometimes take for granted the many blessings we have in our pursuit to obtain the many things we think we need to have to be happy?  It is more often the small and often subtle things that we should truly be grateful for.  The Savior’s life and teachings set an example of gratitude and how giving thanks can bring joy.  At time all of us feel jealously or envy, but these feelings don’t bring happiness or joy.  We can overcome such feelings by being grateful for whatever we have.  Here are some great scriptures on gratitude:  Doctrine and Covenants 46:32 states, “And ye must give thanks unto God in the spirit for whatsoever blessings ye are blessed with.”  Luke 17:17 — “And Jesus answering said,  “Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the other nine?”  I am going to try harder to be grateful for whatever I have and at times when other people get something I will just be happy for them and be grateful for whatever I have.