Count your many blessings...

"Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings." Said Thomas S. Monson. I read this quote, and wondered, how often do I actually stop, and think about the blessings I have in my life? A quick reflection makes me think, never! Well, not enough anyway. I have so much to be grateful for. 

In church, we have a Hymn called "Count your many blessings" which starts like this:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings; name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one.

Count your blessings;

See what God hath done.

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one.

Count your many blessings;

See what God hath done

Today, whilst I'm sitting in uni, thinking about assignments, and other things, my mind began to wonder. Partly because I get bored easily, and I get distracted, but, partly because I was thinking about things I'm grateful for, and things that make me happy. So I thought, I'd count them. Clearly I'm not going to write them all down, that would take too long, and it would be boring...

But here we go:

1. I'm grateful for my testimony
2. I'm grateful for my family
3. I'm grateful for my friends
4. I'm grateful that I'm at uni
5. I'm grateful that I can drive, and that my Nan lets me drive her car
6. I'm grateful that I have a roof over my head
7. I'm grateful that I have people who support me, and listen to me rant
8. I'm grateful for my iPhone (It's awesome!)
9. I'm grateful I can be my own person, no matter what other people say
10. I'm grateful people respect my opinions
11. I'm grateful I'm lucky enough to know how to read, and write
12. I'm grateful for my trials, even though I hate them when I'm going through them
13. I'm grateful for how much my Mum and Dad went without, so that I could have
14. I'm grateful for those moments when I can't stop laughing
15. I'm grateful for the memories of the past
16. I'm grateful for those people who taught me so much about myself, ans those that taught me in general
17. I'm grateful for music, without it, these trips in the library would feel like death
18. I'm grateful for the sunshine, it makes everything look better 
19. I'm grateful for my callings at church, the primary and the YSA are ace!
20. I'm grateful for my smile...

There are loads more things that I could be grateful for, some of them being more important than others, but nevertheless, I'm grateful for them. I am lucky to live the life I live. 

I know I'm not always a happy chappy, but there are always reasons to be, so I'm going to try better, and I'm going to take more moments to think about why I'm happy, and what I'm grateful for, especially in those hard times. 

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

A little challenge for us all... Smile like you mean it... :)