Been feeling simultaneous surges of relief and disappointment.
Also been thinking about everyone's comments regarding how to keep our children (and shouldn't we add ourselves) out of the "entitlement" trap.
The word in my mind at the end of the day:
GRATITUDE
Here's the thing. It's a cure-all.
I appreciate how conscious gratitude can deepen and prolong our joys. I felt today's happy Huntsman news become sweeter and sweeter as Wes and I verbally exchanged words of gratitude and as I offered prayers of thanks to a kind and attentive Father in Heaven. "Everything looks stable" is a post-MRI phrase that I don't wish to take for granted, although it miraculously becomes more and more routine.
And this afternoon, when disappointment stung a rather fond hope and a little piece of my personal pride, I felt myself craving the relief that comes from REMEMBERING blessings. Counting them. And so I have been. All evening. And I tell you what, the grass in my own front yard is looking brilliantly green.
Significant and profound blessings. Superficial and sheer-convenience blessings. They're all on my list tonight.
And I can't help feeling overwhelmingly happy.
And I can't help feeling overwhelmingly convinced that teaching our children to count and rejoice in blessings ought to curb that nasty tendancy to feel entitled to everything.
Cause isn't it through cultivating gratitude that we come to understand where true happiness comes from?? And isnt' it as we cultivate gratitude for all of life's experiences (the good and the bad) that we remember: life isn't about having things but rather about becoming something?
I love Elder Oaks' mention of Tevye's "memorable Fiddler on the Roof prayer which concludes with the pleading question:"
Lord, who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am;
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan,
If I were a wealthy man?
(Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick [1964])
"Yes, Tevye," Elder Oaks notes,"it might."
He then continues,
"Let us give thanks for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us for our personal journey through mortality...When we give thanks in all things, we see hardships and adversities [as well as blessings and miracles] in the context of the purpose of life."
And happiness and contentment flow more readily.
I'm grateful for the principle of gratitude.
15 comments:
I'm sorry to hear about disappointment, but glad to be reminded about how important it is to be grateful in spite of those disappointments. I'm interested in going back to read some of those thoughts about entitlement because, I agree, it's a big problem these days.
amen. gratitude is the way to "cut out all the bad parts." love you friends. thrilled for the huntsman news :)
I also love your attitude, Lori. It's contagious and I can't help but try to emulate. Yesterday was a rough day for me (super oppressive heat wave combined with a strike of severe disappointment and an accompanying bout of loneliness...not to mention the disgustingly huge cockroach we found in our kitchen..yeah...it was rough). But today I'm also trying to count my blessings. I'll never cease to be amazed by how much gratitude can lift my spirit.
Although I don't really know what's going on, what is obvious is the strength and perspective you and Wes have when it comes to this earthly state (I think too many of us forget too quickly the reasons we are here on this earth) and the love you have for each other. Those things alone are to be cherished and grateful for. Your personality is contagious... and that Lucy and tiny boy of yours are two very lucky souls to have you as their parents! Thanks for the little reminder for me to take inventory of all the blessings I am grateful for. (and I hope disappointments are a thing of the past for you guys)
Glad to hear Wes is doing so well! I agree that gratitude is a great thing, and I need to do a lot more of it.
Thanks Lori. You and Wes, Lucy too, are great examples of humble, grateful, examplary people. You always seem to "make the lemonade" out of every situation you are given. Thanks for the reminder, we all need them, to count our blessings. It really will nip the "entitlement" issue in the bum. Also think that if kids are taught about the concept of earning the things they feel "entitled" too then perhaps they will see that they don't have to have everything. (okay so that didn't come out quite right but hopefully you get what I am saying. Madelyn gets an allowance for doing things without being asked and when she earns enough she can do what she would like with that money, of course after paying tithing. This just keep going and going, sorry, perhaps I should post something about it!)
Glad to hear that the huntsman news was good and that everything is "stable". Hope that disappointment will become less and less for you but we must remember that those disappointments will only make us stronger people.
I have been thinking alot about gratitude and humbling/rough situations this week. Moving to a new place however joyful it is always seems to shake me up a bit. It is a good thing to experience the "bad" to appreciate the good. What a wonderful plan! And yes, so glad to hear good news on Wes.
These posts are why I love your blog. It is like a happy spot in the middle of a dreary day. Thank you!
Happy to hear the huntsman news!
I loved this post... you're right. Gratitude does seem to dispel those feelings of entitlement.
Thank you Lori. You always seem to post what I need to hear at the moment. So thank you. Really, thank you.
Glad to hear things are stable! We love the Trumans!
So relieved about your Huntsman news guys...and sorry about your other news!
Thanks. You're thoughts were exactly what I needed to be reminded of right now.
Thanks for your positiveness. I'm sure part of why you wrote was to help yourself and remind yourself of the principle of gratitude, but you are so inspiring. Thank you for sharing yourself and your testimony with others. I appreciate it. I think you are wonderful(all of the Truman clan including the coming little boy).
Good to hear that Wes is still doing well!
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