Fractural Education: Part 1

Most of us have heard – more than once or twice – that our difficult times can be an opportunity to learn some lessons about life. I suppose I have a lot to learn, because I just keep getting those teaching moments.

My most recent inconvenient life event – a broken hip – was not as unsettling as others I've had, but I managed to learn a few things. I'll address just one issue in this post, but more lessons will follow.

Are you ready? Here we go . . .

So Much To Be Grateful For!

From the scriptures and we learn that we can – and should – be grateful, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever (1 Chronicles 16:34)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things . . . (D&C 59:21) 

Sure, it's easy to be grateful when things are going well. But,  – (unless whining counts as gratitude) – I'm not so proficient at expressing thankfulness when everything is looking rather dark.

But I keep trying, for several reasons. First, it is essential for us know and to remember that everything that we have, and are, and ever will be are gifts from the Lord. Without his grace and mercy, we are nothing.

O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth. (Helaman 12:7)

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalms 8:3-4) 

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There's another reason, one that is so simple that I wonder why I have to be reminded of it:

When you know that you have been commanded to be grateful, and when you are determined to keep that commandment, you have no choice but to start looking for happy things – often things you may not have noticed, or have been taking for granted, or hadn't recognized as blessings.

Like all God's commandments, this requirement to give thanks is given not as a burden or chore, but as a blessing; an opportunity to be happier. When we remind ourselves that we are supposed to grateful, we will look for things to be grateful for. And that process makes the trial easier to take.

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There is power in Gratitude; healing power. I came upon this truth unexpectedly, in the story of the ten lepers, as recorded in the 17th chapter of Luke.

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Here's the point, the thing I hadn't considered before: All ten lepers were cleansed and healed; but only one was made whole. It was this man's faith and gratitude; that was the difference that made him whole, that healed his spiritual and emotional wounds as well as his physical ones.

I don't know about you, but these promised blessings are more than enough motivation to get me to make a genuine effort to be grateful, even when it doesn't seem easy.

I have a house, my kids, my friends, my amazing husband – all these things feel so precious to me. Good music and books, scriptures and General Conference talks, a comfortable bed, an easily accessible bathroom, wonderful neighbors and friends, the beauty of the world – what a great list! And there's more, more, more.

We can always find something to be grateful for. And we can always find something to complain about The good news is that you get to choose.