Gratitude

I used to teach Sunday School, and I went to church regularly. I was 16 years old and everyone in my family had pretty much stopped attending church except for me. My church, in hindsight, was pretty liberal. When I moved to Utah, I just didn't find the same thing. Then I started to question the existence of God.

I don't really want to go into that right now, but while I have decided you don't need church or God to have morals, there is still something missing. When I witness everyday miracles, I no longer feel the magic of a higher power. I thought that was because I don't have that kind of faith anymore, that I knew that science can explain most things better than religion can. But now, I believe, it is because I have forgotten about gratitude.
Saying grace before a meal, or giving thanks to God is how I used to express my gratitude. Do I need God to be grateful? I don't think so. I have just forgotten how to be grateful because I am out of the kind of practice going to a "real" church used to give me. So, I will experiment by trying, every day, to be grateful for things. It doesn't matter that I don't know if I ought to be thanking God, or just the randommess of the universe. I can be grateful.

I will start by being grateful to technology. It is often the bane of my existence, and sometimes I just want to delete my Facebook page. But then, an old dear friend comes through Salt Lake and calls me because she knows I live here, and we have a fabulous time thinking about old times and catching up and she is still as awesome as I remember! I even get to show her around this awesome city. So having a gazillion friends means many are, at the moment, superficial relationships, but they are all people I would be thrilled to see again someday.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown