We’ve been reminded often, by the Brethren, the importance of being grateful every day. Well, here it is—November—so it’s time to start thinking about it, right? I know, it’s just not easy to think of blessings when so many things are going on in our lives, both good and bad, but always overwhelming. I don’t mean to throw around any guilt trips, but even when we have it bad, we have it pretty good. God is always available to us and He blesses us even when we least expect it, or deserve it.

I ran across this wonderful talk given by Joseph Fielding Smith. It’s just part of the talk, but I hope it inspires you as much as it does me:

“At the session of the conference this morning we were informed that the Church is out of debt, that it owes no man or any institution a dollar. For that I am grateful, as I know you are. But the Church is in debt—fortunately not financially, but it is in debt now, has always been in debt, and will be in debt as long as time endures.

Ingratitude is, I think, the most prevalent of all sins, and one of the greatest, because every soul who refuses to abide in the truth, who will not walk in the light and understanding of the commandments which Jesus Christ has given, is ungrateful. He came and gave His life to redeem us from transgression. He was nailed to a cross and His blood was shed. What for? That we might live, that we might receive the remission of our sins, that we might, through obedience to the principles of the gospel, come back again into the presence of God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.

Are we not indebted? Yes. Are we ungrateful? Yes, unless we are willing to abide by every word that comes from the mouth of God, unless we are obedient, unless our hearts are broken, in the scriptural sense, unless our spirits are contrite, unless within our soul is the spirit of humility and faith and obedience.

Now there are many debts which we owe to the Lord. There is the debt of preaching this gospel to a wicked and a perverse generation. We are indebted then, or obligated, to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. We owe it as a Church and as individuals, to keep ourselves clean; our minds pure, our souls clean, uncontaminated by the sins of the world. It is our obligation, and we owe this debt to each other and to the Church at large to keep ourselves in strict accord with all these laws and commandments, to keep ourselves virtuous and clean.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, CR, Apr. 1944).

Each year I have promoted writing a list of 101 grateful things experienced throughout the year. It is an exercise that has brought me closer to the God who created me, and loves me, and wants me to succeed in this life. I know He feels the same way about you. It is the most comforting thing in the world to know that God knows us as individuals. Show Him how much you love him back. Create your list, obey His commandments, and relish His love for you.

I’ll close with some words I wrote three years ago in this blog.

“As you take the time to list, whether on paper, or in your mind, all the many blessings you have in your life, your heart will be filled, your worth will grow, your awareness will peak, your love will overflow.  You will recognize that you love and that you are loved.”

Have a thankful Thanksgiving month!