Go and Do - Gratitude

So. I am going to try to be more vocal about the things I'm grateful for. I'm not insisting to myself that I post my gratitude every day...but I hope I do. That will be my goal, but I don't want it to cause me so much stress that I'm not grateful for the opportunity to express gratitude. =P

To start off, I am really grateful that conference was a challenge for me, because now I am studying it more fervently, and looking deeper than I probably would have otherwise. I might have said to myself "I already got something from this talk, so its okay if I don't find anything new." Not so! I didn't find anything the first time. It was hiding from me. And by golly, I'm going to find it! And with the Spirit to guide me, I'll be able to find it. I'll be able to find exactly what the Lord needs for me to learn. It may or may not be big and grand on the surface - but if I repent and change according to what they say it will be a pivotal 6 months of my life. =) In addition to being a pivotal conference for the whole church, as I'm sure it is/was/will be.

Just to kick off this gratitude endeavor, I am also going to include one of my favorite videos.

"Barter" by Sara Teasdale

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

Twice in One Week

I cooked. I totally just sauteed mushrooms, and I'm enjoying them at this very moment. =)

Me, cooking? And twice in one week? That IS a miracle.

That Ye May Be Filled With This Love

I've been praying for charity each day...and I have received it! I have had more thoughts of kindness, I've spoken more kindly, and I've provided more small acts of service for those around me. Anyone who knew me well in high school or early college knows I wasn't the most selfless person around. I am not perfect, but I'm doing better than I was back then. All through the grace of Jesus Christ and God's willingness to answer prayers. =)

"Pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ;...that we may be purified even as he is pure."
Moroni 7:48

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

The miracle of forgiveness amazes me. It amazes me that through one Man, Jesus Christ, despair and bitterness can be replaced with peace and healing. If that's not a miracle I don't know what is.
Having had the opportunity to forgive someone who had hurt me and led me to feel bitterness, I can testify that the peace that comes from the forgiveness and the peace that comes from Jesus Christ, are very real. He can heal every wound.
I want to repeat something I've repeated often in the last couple years:
Everything that seems unfair in this life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Return to Virtue

I've come to see that virtue truly does bring joy. My life is so much more peaceful than it would have been if I had allowed anyone to convince me otherwise. Every person living a life of virtue is a truly beautiful miracle.

Testimony of the Book of Mormon

I know that what Elder Holland says about the Book of Mormon is true, especially that the Book of Mormon has been given "to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the last days," and that the Book of Mormon provides safety for the soul, because it leads us to Jesus Christ, the Savior. The Book of Mormon is a miracle that means more to me than most any other miracle.

Lucky

One of the greatest miracles in my life currently is that one of the greatest men I know cares about me and considers me to be his friend.

And why is he one of the greatest men I know? He has a relationship with God, seeks to follow Him with all his heart, and he truly loves, serves, and cares for God's other children, everyone around him. I'm lucky to know him.