Week two of the  November Gratitude challenge has come and gone. I’m moved by those of you who are buying many copies of the “It is Well With My Soul” Gratitude Journal to share with friends and family. One reader wrote in and said, “I initially bought 5, and today ordered 10 more. I will gift them to friends in the month of November letting them know how much I am grateful for their friendship.” The only thing better than cultivating gratitude in yourself is giving others a chance to do the same. 

My struggle for daily consistency in putting in my entries continues, but I have been mediating on gratitude constantly. My favorite tip that I recently heard to cultivate gratitude in life is using the phrase, “what a privilege it is to…” when you might be inclined to complain. For instance, if I was going to say “my sink is just so full of dishes”, instead I would say, “what a privilege it is to have a sink full of dishes. We had food to eat and something reliable to eat off of and this sink’s running water will make these so much easier to wash”.

Another example, to capture my situation at this very moment: instead of saying, “I am have two sleeping kids snuggled into me so tight that I can’t get up to work at a computer as I had hoped to. If I move, I will wake them and lose my chance to write at all, so I am writing this on my phone with my arms out in contorted discomfort. I am trapped. I never get to just accomplish what I want to in peace.” Instead I could say, “what a privilege it is to have these beautiful children who feel safe and secure when they can feel my warmth. What a privilege to be so loved and what a privilege to have a magical digital device that I can type on so near at hand (that autocorrects the word privilege which I apparently cannot spell). And what a privilege to have arms with the strength and flexibility to help me write at this creative angle.” 

Try it out, add the phrase “what a privilege…” to your complaints. The first few may just come out sarcastic, but it really allows you to reframe the things that might otherwise bring you down. 

We had several readers write in to share this week. If you would like to share your experiences with and thoughts on gratitude, please email me at ma****@me**************.com. 

The first thought is from Andrea B. whose college tradition would be a great suggestion for upcoming holiday gatherings: 

One of my thanksgiving traditions that started with roommates at BYU and we are talking a long time ago … 1975 was the roommates that it began with. We put up on the door leaving our apartment a huge poster/newspaper roll with markers and every time someone left they were invited to write something they were grateful for. I kept that tradition up for many years.

Sherry M. shared her notes from a recent talk she gave that included many stories of service she had received and felt deep gratitude for. Here are two that stood out to me: 

We were penniless newlyweds living in a 4 part cement cave underground which was trying to pass as an apartment, when Jerry made a comment in elders’ quorum about the suggested amount of fast offerings under such circumstances.  A few hours later, the bishop showed up at our door with a cardboard box of food.

This was among the first of a number of examples of service we have seen and been given. It has been a sweet experience to go back and remember such stories.

27 years ago, I was facing radical surgery for breast cancer. With only a week’s warning and the necessity of making sub plans for my first graders and visiting several specialists, it was a frightening time.  I kept thinking that I had enough courage to make it until Friday morning at 11:30, when the operation was scheduled.   When that hour came, I was waiting with other patients for the call to come and it was suddenly announced that most procedures would be delayed for several hours because of sudden need for the operating rooms.   I had not realized until that very moment that I truly DID have only enough strength to make it that far.  I fell apart and started sobbing.  A red-headed nurse helped me out of my chair and pushed my IV rack ahead into a recovery room so I could be alone and then with my husband while waiting.   What followed was one of the sweetest experiences I have ever had with the comforts of the Spirit.  The surgery didn’t take place until after nightfall, but I was at peace that whole time,  grateful for her sensitivity.

Donald C. shared a story that still quite literally still rings vividly in his ears: 

30 years ago, in the midst of the painful breakdown of my marriage in which three young kids were involved, I was so discouraged I began to wish to end of my life

Desperate, after several days of struggling with pain and trying to understand what could have been going wrong and how to correct and avoid the worst for the children, I found myself on my knees, with forehead on the ground and my hands extended in the position of prayer that Muslims use.

As I was trying to find words to address my father in heaven for consolation, consult and comforting, there was no words in my confused and empty mind. So, in this position of prayer, I found myself suddenly surrendering all my will to the Deities that might hear me in this universe..

And in this real moment, a feeling of gratitude enveloped my mind in peace as I was hearing angels from heaven singing a worshipping reverence to our Father in Heaven.

They sang three simple word, repeatedly, in the calm and reverence of that hymn to the Most high… “Glory to God “

30 years later and he still remembers the unique melody he heard and shares it when he can. 

The healing power of gratitude comes into play at different junctures in each of our lives, but I love that it’s something we can be so deliberate about cultivating, even when times aren’t particularly trying. Having a place to record your blessings certainly helps with that process and I’ve decided to keep the sale pricing on the “It Is Well With My Soul” Gratitude Journal through the end of the month ($12 each or $10 each when you buy 5 or more) 

Thanks to all of you who are using the opportunity to help friends and coworkers and mission companions and ministering families and more have the chance to cultivate gratitude as well.