A Time for Thanksgiving

[Anonymous]

I am thankful for my family. This Thanksgiving marks the first Thanksgiving we have been together as a family since 2008. We have a recently returned missionary son and another who leaves for a mission shortly as well as a daughter who goes to school on the opposite side of the country. I am grateful for their desire to be together for holidays and recognize that this will not always be possible – and this may well be the last. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is about family, and while it has a religious undertone it’s really not about any religion or creed or belief at all – anyone can celebrate. I am also thankful for that.

[Anonymous]

There is so much I could list, but since I’m here, I want to say thank you – all – for sharing of yourselves here at this site. It’s meant a lot to me.

Happy Thanksgiving 2015 from Ann.

[Anonymous]

I am thankful that my eyes have been opened and I see the church in a different place.

I am thankful that I don’t feel afraid of dying.

I am thankful that my daughter and wife have re-engaged with the church after several years of attending a different ward and feeling like people without a country.

I am thankful we have a new Bishop who is a shaker and a mover and who gets things done.

I am thankful our building is getting close to completion so my commute will be reasonable.

I am thankful that my life’s experiences have taught me not to worry, even when there are things that would normally present cause for worry.

I am thankful that I have found happiness, fulfilment and self-actualization in community service.

I am thankful that, as Ezra Taft Benson said in my mission call, “God will reward the good in [my] life”

I am thankful that my view of tithing allows me to fund projects that I am passionate about in the community.

I am thankful for good volunteers who take their roles seriously and execute with quality.

I am thankful that I no longer feel sad my children will soon leave the house and forge their own lives without me.

I am thankful my wife takes responsibility for paying bills and the lion’s share of my son’s disability.

I am thankful for the talents God has given me that allow me to have knowledge in a wide variety of disciplines.

I am thankful that I have a good mentor in my current educational program who gives me solid, specific direction.

I am thankful for my broad interests and that I have finally learned to improvise solos with a degree of confidence.

I am thankful it is thanksgiving and that tomorrow I may not feel the pressure to make myself work a long day.

I am thankful that my employer has paid for my education in the last 12 years.

I am thankful that I have sufficient income for my needs.

I am thankful that my wife is going to school for a meaningful profession.

I am thankful for Netflix during those times I can’t push myself to work any harder.

I am thankful I am alive and still have time left to achieve my goals while on earth.

I am thankful that I have the capacity for hard work, dreaming, and execution.

I am thankful for authors such as Warren Bennis, Steven R. Covey, Harvard professors like Michael Porter, Kotter, Fisher and Ury, and intelligent authors such as the Heath Brothers and Clayton Christensen (a Mormon).

I am thankful for a Bishopric member who is helping me solve a problem.

I am thankful for mentors who have taught me so many things.

[Anonymous]

fantastic list SD! Count your blessings indeed. :thumbup:

[Anonymous]

I love this thread, for the warm feeling in my heart, listening to y’all sharing your feelings about your lives. Since most if not all in this forums are having painful FC. I believe it is very important that no matter what challenges we face, it is important to recognize the good things in your life including family and friends. I suspect the overwhelming preponderance of people who come to this forum have a roof over their head, know where our next meal is coming from, have change in our pocket, have a computer which enables us to communicate with friends in a safe and positive environment for those feelings closest to our heart. If we have any of those things, we are better off than the vast majority of mankind.

On the brighter side, consider the difference between a pessimist and an optimist. Given a pony, the pessimist would complain all the hard work and expense required to maintaining one is. The optometrist, when seeing a pile of horse manure he feverishly digs through it. When asked why, the optimist explains “with all this sh*t, there’ got to be a pony in here somewhere!”

The comments in this thread show many folks who are or have been in a painful FC. Yet, comments in this thread they find positives things they like about the church & culture: kind folks wanting to help folks, sacred music, a fun/safe place for kids to play and learn, a theology that teaches truth that resonates in you, like the plan of salvation, an understandable concept of God who cares deeply about us and our struggles, an understanding of of man’s role in God’s universe.

IMO one of the most powerful, yet universal practices open to virtually every man, woman and child, is gratitude. With it you make lemonade, as we humbly recognize those things in your life, and in the lives of you, your family, friends and community. Gratitude is a powerful attitude that brings happiness, joy, and a life worth living. Without gratitude, we are left with lemons that sour virtually everything we see and do.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Dash. Good perspective.

[Author]

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