There was a family with several small children, a father whose lay-of a few months earlier was ensuring that Christmas for these children would be one where gifts would include just being together. Having parents that love children and the excitement of gifts asked all of us to forgo Christmas gifts and instead ensure that these children had a Christmas filled with food and gifts.

The morning became more bearable as my spirit led and peace descended with a clear answer as to what I needed to do next.  The Lord lets us know He knows where we are and then the phone rang. My church leader was on the line asking if I could speak a few minutes in church that same day about gratitude and share my testimony of Jesus Christ.

t is important to recognize that trials and challenges are what we signed up for in our pre-mortality choice to follow Jesus Christ. The road was never going to be easy. We learn from Lehi that “it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things” and from the Doctrine and Covenants that “my people must be tried in all things.”

Peacefulness is a sense of control of that which governs our actions. 

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. … Let us with caution, indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. … Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle."

What will be different today than yesterday? Will we look a little closer to see how we can serve those in need? Will we praise God every day for His mercy and perfect love? Will will lift someone feeling sad? Will we take time every day to count our blessings? I hope so.

"I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events...

Charles Dickens penned words that resonate with all of us from a Christmas Carol and old Marley’s reflection:

At this time of the rolling year I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which guided the Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light might have conducted me!"

Children are able to express thankfulness for the simple things in life, the moon, grass, snow, stars, Hocus Pocus 2, parents, bed, favorite blankets, Jesus. The simple things in life. What might those be as adulthood and its complexities arise?

Everything the Savior did and said was for the benefit of humankind. His Atonement, His example, and His teachings—everything was to help us not only to have a more abundant life on earth but also to attain the most abundant of all life—even eternal life. For His Atonement, which overcame death for all of humanity and He claims us. What do we have to offer Him for this sacrifice?