#givethanks

I just watched President Russell M. Nelson's message of hope. (President Nelson is the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a prophet, seer and revelator.) He encouraged us to #givethanks on social media and express gratitude daily in prayer. I will.

I have a few blog posts in unfinished states and feel extremely busy right now as I try to finish a project involving database development I am doing. I am not always filled with gratitude during such times. Instead, I think I often feel anxiety, irritation, disappointment and critical thoughts about myself and others. I am relatively certain that is quite normal.

But grateful thoughts heal, and increase perspective. I think that is why I posted something about modern day wows and woes recently: it reminds of the amazing lives we lead even when trials and tribulations persist.

I don't like working fourteen-hour days and the stress and resentment I allow build up.

But I am absolutely grateful to have a job doing database "stuff", which I really enjoy. I am grateful to use these skills to assist the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am grateful for good co-workers and customers. I am grateful to solve problems instead of just creating them. I am grateful to have a job. I am grateful to work from home. I am grateful for an amazing, supportive wife and some really good children that I truly enjoy being with. I am grateful for my sons' wives, whom I adore. I am grateful for good and kindly parents and siblings and in-laws. I am grateful to live in this land of the the great "American experiment" and its founders, and for the great state of Utah, as while as my city and my community. I am grateful for good neighbors and friends. I am grateful to have an abundance of peace in my life. I am grateful for music. I am grateful for elementary, middle and high school teachers and workers who love and serve my children in numerous ways. I am grateful for my education. I am grateful to keep learning. I am grateful for my cars and freedom of movement. I am grateful for modern technologies and communications. I am grateful for conveniences and time-savers like toasters and garage door openers and Google Maps and myriad little things. I am thankful for the love and kindness of my church members, and the love and kindness of members of other faiths I interact with daily. I am grateful for the generosity and kindness of new people I meet every day, sometimes far away. I am grateful for good people that bless my life today, yesterday and years and years ago. I am grateful to have served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a country across the sea, and for the wonderful people I met and served there. I am grateful for learning the language in this country. I am grateful for miracles. I am grateful for tender mercies and blessings from the Spirit that happen frequently and often when I don't deserve them. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and other ancient and modern scripture. I am thankful for walking, eating, sleeping, laughing, loving, living, growing ... .

And I am grateful I think I could go on for hours. I will stop.