Gratitude is the feeling that prompts us to say “thank-you”—both to God and to others—for the things that make us happy and make us better. We feel gratitude for the people we love, the earth we live in, our bodies, our talents, things we enjoy, and so much more.
However, gratitude is more than a feeling; it’s a choice and a mindset. Having a grateful attitude allows us to be happy not only during good times but all the time. We can choose to find the positive in people and situations around us rather than to let life’s difficulties drag us down.
Gratitude grows as it is expressed. By expressing our gratitude to others for their help and kindness, we give them the joy of being appreciated and we increase our own ability to recognize our blessings. Most important, we ought to give thanks to God for all that we have, because we recognize that, ultimately, everything good in our lives is because of Him. Just as our appreciation for each other is felt more deeply when it is accompanied by action, our prayers of thanks to God mean more when we strive to keep His commandments and serve others.
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is a process. It requires humility to acknowledge others’ roles in our success and to attribute our blessings to God. It also requires conscious focus to be grateful in times of difficulty. These BYU devotionals help us understand the benefits of a grateful heart as well as the dangers of an ungrateful one. They offer ideas of how we can develop greater gratitude. The speakers’ own expressions of gratitude for blessings, experiences, opportunities, and even challenges are humbling and inspiring. Their words will encourage you to “count your many blessings” (Hymns, no. 241).
