Most Monday nights my family and I do something called Family Home Evening [FHE]. It is a good chance for us to spend some time with each other, apart from work or school, and to just enjoy being a family. It always helps to make our family feel like the safe haven that it is-the kind of home you want to come into.

We typically start with a song and prayer, and then a short lesson and fun activity. Of course, it is always followed by dessert of some kind-I mean, this is the Hanaike house so theres gotta be dessert. Tonight it was my turn to do the lesson/activity. I decided that since Halloween and Christmas both have so much focus on them, Thanksgiving needed some love as well.

I used a talk from President Monson, who is the Prophet of my church. He shares lots of stories about what a difference gratitude can make in our life and in the lives of others. I loved some of the quotes in the talk, and it helped me to reflect on all the millions of things I have to be grateful for in my life. He says: 

"Do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love. 

My beloved friend President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.” 

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings. 

This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways. 

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. 

"The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”