Changes

Jan. 13, 1994

Jan. 13, 1994

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

Gratitude is as a flower blooming in your heart, the petals opening to receive the blessed light of God. Think of this image when you feel your heart swell with gratitude. The flower blooms. The beauty of its petals reflect the light of God. Grateful hearts are like a beautiful field of flowers to the Father. He sees the light shining from these petals, and knows his garden of created souls flourishes. Turn your attention to the many ways in which you are blessed in your lives. Think on these things with sincerity, and you will discover an endless stream of blessings that come to you. Realize that you can encourage this gratitude in others, in many ways. First, speak of the gratefulness you have for your own life's blessings. Others hear these words, and are cheered. Second, encourage those you see who struggle in negative thoughts to turn their thoughts with intention to the blessings which come to them. Speak yourself of blessings you see coming to them. This is a model of encouragement which will heighten their own perception of these blessings. Third, give thanks always for the good that shows itself in your life: the love you receive from others, the beauty you perceive in the world, the comfort you obtain from your relationships, and your physical surroundings. Recognize the many ways in which heavenly beings provide you with protection and care. Their unseen efforts must be a part of your perspective if you are truly to see yourself on a path toward God. Thankfulness in your heart is the soil from which the flower of gratitude grows and blooms.

[[Gratitude]] is as a flower blooming in your [[heart]], the petals opening to [[receive]] the [[blessed]] [[light]] of [[God]]. Think of this [[image]] when you [[feel]] your heart swell with gratitude. The flower blooms. The [[beauty]] of its petals reflect the light of God. [[Grateful]] hearts are like a [[beautiful]] field of flowers to [[the Father]]. He sees the light shining from these petals, and knows his [[garden]] of created souls flourishes. Turn your [[attention]] to the many ways in which you are [[blessed]] in your lives. Think on these things with [[sincerity]], and you will [[discover]] an endless [[stream]] of blessings that come to you. [[Realize]] that you can [[encourage]] this gratitude in others, in many ways.  

 

First, speak of the [[gratefulness]] you have for your own life's [[blessings]]. Others hear these [[words]], and are cheered.  

 

Second, [[encourage]] those you see who [[struggle]] in [[negative]] thoughts to turn their thoughts with [[intention]] to the [[blessings]] which come to them. Speak yourself of blessings you see coming to them. This is a [[model]] of [[encouragement]] which will heighten their own [[perception]] of these [[blessings]].  

 

Third, give thanks always for the [[good]] that shows itself in your [[life]]: the [[love]] you receive from others, the [[beauty]] you [[perceive]] in the world, the [[comfort]] you obtain from your [[relationships]], and your physical [[surroundings]]. Recognize the many ways in which heavenly [[beings]] provide you with [[protection]] and [[care]]. Their [[unseen]] [[efforts]] must be a part of your [[perspective]] if you are truly to see yourself on a [[path]] toward [[God]]. [[Thankfulness]] in your [[heart]] is the [[soil]] from which the flower of [[gratitude]] [[grows]] and blooms.

==Session 7==

==Session 7==