President Russell M. Nelson, the spiritual leader and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, put out this message today about gratitude. In it, he invites all of us to turn our social media accounts into our own “personal gratitude journal” between now and Thanksgiving, which we celebrate next week here in the United States.
I don’t really do social media anymore, but I do still have this blog, so in keeping with President Nelson’s invitation I am going to spend the next seven days building a list of a hundred things that I am grateful for.
(1) I am grateful for my wife, and the wonderful influence for good that she is in my life.
(2) I am grateful for the fact that our baby is healthy, happy, and developing well.
(3) I am grateful for our home, the roof over our heads, and the shelter it provides us from the elements.
(4) I am grateful for the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets and apostles, which have and continue to provide me with guidance, direction, comfort, admonition, and answers to life’s difficult questions.
(5) I am grateful to live in an age when incredible advancements in medical knowledge make it possible for us to live without fear of the diseases and ailments that have plagued mankind for thousands of years.
(6) I am grateful to live in an age when my words can be read across the world at very little expense to myself, and I can hold in my hand a device that has access to almost all of the collective knowledge of mankind.
(7) I am grateful for my parents, who raised me in a loving home and provided me not only with the necessities of life, but who raised me to be the man I am today.
(8) I am grateful for my sisters and the positive influence that they are in my life.
(9) I am grateful for my in-laws and the support and love that they give us.
(10) I am grateful that I am able to pursue my childhood dream to be a writer, and the numerous opportunities that the self-publishing revolution has made possible.
(11) I am grateful for my readers who make this writing career possible.
(12) I am grateful for my health.
(13) I am grateful for the fact that we have food in our pantry and refrigerator, and do not need to go hungry.
(14) I am grateful to live in a community where crime is low and people are generally friendly and willing to help when we need it.
