Thankful for Little Things

Sarah & Nathan Riding
Sarah Lyle Riding
This weekend was Sarah Lyle’s wedding. She married Shaelynn McCoy’s brother, Nathan Riding, from the Payson South Stake. It was so fun to be a part of the wedding reception. To see them, and their excitement for their future. It was also great to see so many friends and neighbors that we lived with for years. While living in Idaho is great, it's difficult to leave the friends we lived near and the home we lived in for 12 years.

Savanna, Tate & Dawson again
Savannah Lyle with Tate & Dawson
Years ago, Darren Hardy told about a time that he wrote each day, for a year, the many things he was grateful for regarding his wife.

I liked that idea, so I began a gratitude journal for Noell. I decided to fill up an entire journal with feelings of gratitude toward Noell.

Writing a gratitude journal for a spouse may not be something that will be beneficial to others, but it was a good experience for me. At first, I highlighted many great and wonderful things about her. As time moved on, I had to come up with new things each day--there are only so many great and wonderful things that can be highlighted over the course of many months.

Besides recognizing the many wonderful things about my wife, the most important thing that I discovered in this gratitude journal was “The Little Things”. As time moves on, we have to shift our emphasis to little things. I believe the little things are often the big things.

Another thought about the little things is taking the little things in a negative light. My father-in-law once told me that he was in a meeting where a man said it’s the little things that cause divorce. He said, for example, people get upset over how the toothpaste is squeezed, the way pictures are arranged on a wall, that the dishwasher isn’t loading the right way. He then explained that the person stated that if it’s not worth getting a divorce over, it’s not worth bringing up these little problems. I think that is great perspective.

A third thought was shared with me when we lived in Ammon Idaho, over a decade ago. At that time the person said to be specific in our praise. For example, after someone gives a talk in church, it’s nice to say’ “Hey, good job! I loved your talk.” It’s another thing to say, “Thank you so much for sharing that story about your daughter. As you shared it, I felt a strong impression that I need to be better with my children. Thank you again.”

Now, as I’m writing this, and as Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, I’m think about the little things regarding God and man.

Regarding God: As I pray, one of my problems is repetitions. Perhaps they could be classified as vain repetitions. I often say the same (or similar things) in each prayer. I probably thank him for the good day, for the great land we live in, and the wonderful blessings he’s given us. I need to be more specific in prayers and thank God for the many little things that he has given me. Perhaps tonight I can pray to him and thank him for little things, things that I have not thanked him for yesterday, or even in the last week.

Regarding man: I should take time to thank my family, my parents, grandparents, children, siblings, and even my friends and neighbors for little things. I can point out something specific and be direct in thanking them. I might say, “I love your example in how you treat your wife. Thanks for always putting your arm around her in public. That is such a great example and I appreciate it.”

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