Gratitude in Sorrow

I have always felt that expressing our gratitude to God each day is not only a must, but necessary.
Everything that is good in our lives comes from God. You can be the poorest person in the world and still show gratitude for the little you do have. And nothing makes God sadder than our ingratitude for what we have been blessed with.
Because of an ongoing trial in our family, my heart has been heavy this week, heavy to the point that I literally felt like shutting down and tuning out everything to escape the pain. But then, as always, the Lord was there and comfort came through prayers and a priesthood blessing, and I was reminded of my Savior's love, His mercy, and His grace. The joy of the Father's plan for me was renewed, as well as my faith and understanding that They know me.

God knows me, which means He knows my every thought, my every word and deed, and my every righteous desire. He knows my hopes for my family, and hears every prayer - both spoken and unspoken - for my children and grandchildren.
My Savior sees, feels, and understands every emotional strain I undergo. He witnesses every river of tears that I cry and every heartbreak I endure, and He knows what I am feeling, because He wept those same tears for me in Gethsemane, and He felt my heart break along with His own on the cross.

Because of all of this, my heart is overflowing with gratitude - gratitude for this earthly life with its triumphs and trials, its adversities and afflictions. How can I not be grateful for these experiences when what Christ endured for me is so much greater that I could possibly fathom? Ingratitude, for me, is impossible!
So, I will continue to love the Lord, to serve Him, and to praise Him with all my heart.
I know that if I do this, my heart will never stay broken, because He will always be there to mend it.

Wishing you all a most wonderful and amazing Thanksgiving!

"What is Truth?"

I've said this many times, mainly to my family: All the food and water and emergency preparation in the world will do us no good if we are not spiritually prepared. Yes, we need those things, but spiritual preparedness is far more important, because through this will come the blessings. Which is why it is so vital to build a solid relationship with the Savior.
I have pondered Pontius Pilate's question, "What is truth?" many times and I've been pondering it even more lately, and the simple answer is this: truth is anything that testifies of Christ, at least, that's how I see it and what the spirit has testified to me. So, these days, I am constantly praying for things that will continue to strengthen and increase my faith in - and testimony of - the Savior. I know that it is the only way I will make it through the trials and triumphs to come. It's the only way any of us will.
I pray for the continued spiritual growth of us all.
Happy Sabbath! :-)

In the book of Alma, when King Lamoni's father was being taught of God, the king, wanting to leave
his wicked ways behind him and be cleansed, prostrated himself on the ground before God and cried mightily, saying:
"O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day." ~Alma 22:18
Pondering his humble, heart-felt plea, I wonder how much the world would change if those of us who call ourselves Christians would end every night on our knees with this plea and promise in our hearts, and start each morning on our knees the same way.

The day that we truly begin to give away all our sins to know the Lord will be the day we TRULY BEGIN the process of coming to know Him.