Gratitude

This summer I have been given the opportunity to teach the four-year-olds (all 8-12 of them!) at church every Sunday. The lessons outlined are very simple, filled with tricks for teaching that I've been taught in my major, and certainly intended for small children. Yet, every week, I find myself in need of those simple lessons. This week and last week, the principle being taught was gratitude. Realizing how deeply this principle has affected my life and how deeply connected gratitude and happiness are, I set out to learn a little more about being grateful.

There were many treasures I encountered, but this is my favorite quote of all, from Bonnie D. Parkin in her October 2007 General Conference address, entitled "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness":

"Gratitude opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God."

Another talk which helped me to realize how gratitude helps me feel the love of God was President Henry B. Eyring's address "O Remember, Remember" from November of that same year. There is so much richness in my life. Sometimes, I am completely lost as to how to express its depth in my heart.