Quotes on Gratitude

With Thanksgiving coming up, the principle of gratitude has been on my mind more prevalently. I found a few quotes that echo the sentiments in my heart. 

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“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.” ― Seneca

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” ― Marcus Tullius Cicero

“We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.” ― Neal A. Maxwell

“God gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?” ― William Arthur Ward

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ― William Arthur Ward

“In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” ― Deitrich Bonhoeffer

“The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life…Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!” ― Joseph Fielding Smith

Overcoming This Self-Centered, Sin-Saturated Culture

 We've been studying Hosea as a family as part of the Come Follow Me curriculum. This is a story meant to show us how loyal, loving, and forgiving our Savior is to an unfaithful people, a people who constantly turn their back on the Lord, and who are ever seeking after "other loves" or other gods. 

My question is, why do we keep pursuing "other gods" especially with all that Christ offers us? The Christian music group, Newsboys, reflect on this in their song, Live With Abandon.

Chasing after this world makes me tired. Praisin' my own name leaves me dry.

There's gotta be so much more to life than this, a higher calling that I missed.

Just like the first line in this song, Hosea 4:10 warns that trying to satisfy one's life through the appetites and trends of this world will always result in emptiness. "For they shall eat, and not have enough."

President Nelson acknowledged in his last conference address that "we are presently living in what surely is a most complicated time in the history of the world. The complexities and challenges leave many people feeling overwhelmed and exhausted."

He continues with some good news though, "because Jesus Christ overcame this fallen world, and because He atoned for each of us, you too can overcome this sin-saturated, self-centered, and often exhausting world.... You can overcome the spiritually and emotionally exhausting plagues of the world, including arrogance, pride, anger, immorality, hatred, greed, jealousy, and fear. Despite the distractions and distortions that swirl around us, you can find true rest—meaning relief and peace—even amid your most vexing problems."

How do we rise above such a self-centered, sin-saturated world??

"Overcoming the world is not an event that happens in a day or two. It happens over a lifetime as we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ. We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power."

And then HERE is the great promise!!! 

"As we strive to live the higher laws of Jesus Christ, our hearts and our very natures begin to change. The Savior lifts us above the pull of this fallen world by blessing us with greater charity, humility, generosity, kindness, self-discipline, peace, and rest."

-Alicia Rawlins

For Your Mission

 I wrote this poem just last week to send to my niece and nephew currently serving full-time missions. I admit it's a little cheesy but I had fun with it.  😜

For Your Mission - From, Alicia

Just thinking of you - 

Hope you’re doing well!

Some days are heaven

And others are hell.

Not sure which kind

Today is for you…

So, I wrote you this note

In case you are blue.

Missionary life

brings joy and brings pain,

It stresses and blesses,

through sunshine and rain.

One day you’re on 

The top of your game - 

The next is a flop

And everything’s lame.

Just know that dark days

Will always turn brighter.

You’ll come out on top

Because you’re a fighter!

You’re strong and you’re brave!

You’re in God’s hands-

He has for you 

Some wonderful plans!

Keep on moving

When life’s hard or it’s easy -

When it’s amazing and good

Or makes you feel queasy.

Just do your best

Take one step at a time.

And always remember

That YOU are sublime!!❤

Trust God and Believe!

Proverbs 3:5,6

Halloween 2022

 Not very many of us dressed up this year. We had my best friend, Suzanne, and her family hang out for a while. We had a bon-fire, ate pizza, and listened to our Halloween playlist.  It was pretty casual but really fun!

Surgery

 

The discs in my neck began disintegrating after an injury at a trampoline park 4 years ago.  Dental assisting only accelerated the disintegration. The herniation and the growth of some bone spurs began to smash the nerves in that area of my neck causing me to experience constant nerve pain for months! The neurosurgeon said that if I left these nerves to be smashed for too long, I could have permanent damage. I finally consented to have an osteoplasty (filing down of the bone spurs) and cervical disc replacements of C5,C6,to C7.  I see the neurosergon this Tues. as a follow-up from the surgery to make sure everything is healing properly. 

One twist in this that has turned out to be an enormous blessing is that I had to change jobs because of the damage assisting was doing to my neck. I applied to work at the dental lab next-door, DG Fine Arts. I've known these guys from visiting occasionally to send scanned images for crowns or get a custom shade for a patient at the dental office. They have always been so incredibly kind to me. I always walked away impressed by how supported and comfortable they made me feel asking for their help. 

I got the job at the dental lab really easy. The timing couldn't have been more perfect! It was almost as if they were waiting for me. It was nothing short of a miracle! I love working here!!  It doesn't strain my neck, I don't have to wear scrubs anymore, I can wear a baseball hat, t-shirt, and jeans if I want to- the dress is completely casual. I can listen to music, conference talks, audio-books, and pod-casts, while I work.  And most of all, the work environment feels really good. There's only about ten workers in the whole lab and it's just comfortable. Everyone is really easy and great to be around. I instantly feel like I belong here. God is good!