gratitude

A Heart Full of Praise

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

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My Daily Musings- September 4th, 2026

I have loved the book of Psalms in the Old Testament for a long time. But recently it has really stood out to me. I especially love Psalm 116. In the first verse it says, I love the Lord,” then it tells us why the person loves Him. On the Don’t Miss This podcast this week, one of the hosts asked us to write down, “I love the Lord” and then write down why you love him. She said that “praise works wonders for the soul.” I really like that idea.

I think of Lord here as referring to my Heavenly Father. So, here are some of the reasons why I love my Heavenly Father. When I pray to Him with a sincere heart, I can feel His love for me and I can feel that He is there. That truth alone is incredible to me. I am not perfect and I make so many mistakes, but no matter what I do, He loves me with a love I can’t even begin to imagine. Also, that He wants to listen to me and hear about my problems is amazing.

He created this earth with the beauties of the mountains, the blue sky, the puffy white clouds, the animals, and human beings for me to enjoy. I am amazed when I look at the beauties of nature all around me.

But the main reason why I love Him so much is because He sacrificed His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, so that I can repent, become better and live with Him again someday. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been to watch Jesus suffer. But my Father knew that I would need a Savior, so He did it.

I could list more reasons, but for now, that’s all.

When you think about all that God has done for you, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Have you ever taken time to write down the reasons you love God?

A Hymn of Grateful Praise

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Melodies & Musings

When English poet Folliott Pierpoint sat on a hilltop overlooking the countryside in 1864, the surrounding beauty inspired him to write a simple song of gratitude—one that still speaks to us today. That hymn is For the Beauty of the Earth.

The melody of this hymn is beautiful. But the words really help me be grateful for the many blessings I have in my life. I especially love the words to the first verse.

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

I have always loved the beauties of nature. Looking at the beautiful mountains in Northern Utah where I live fills my soul with gratitude. The beautiful blue skies and even some puffy white clouds help me be grateful. But what really fills my soul with gratitude is the love of my Heavenly Father who loved me before my birth. He loves me no matter what. He will love me with a perfect love I can’t even begin to imagine throughout eternity. He created this earth for me and for all of us to enjoy its beauty.

What is one small detail in nature or your daily life that made you pause and give thanks today? What is one line from a hymn that always fills your heart with gratitude?

Here’s a YouTube Short of me singing the first verse:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0Fy-2XZinaM

Choosing to Seek the Good

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My Daily Musings-August 31st, 2026

“Happiness isn’t that hard to find, you know. It’s everywhere. It’s all around us. But it’s not something that happens to us. It’s something we seek. It’s something we pursue.” From The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh.

I really like this quote from that book. I firmly believe that if we look for the negatives in our lives then we will find them. The opposite is also true: that if we look for the positives in our lives then we will find them. We will find what we seek. If we spend our time discouraged and depressed about our lives all the time, then we won’t feel much hope to get out of those feelings.

If we have a good attitude and are happy about our lives, then we will find more happiness in others and in the world around us. We will be more grateful for the blessings we have in our lives, and those things will help us be happy.

I used to believe that people around me could make me upset or happy. I have realized over the last few years that, while I can’t control everything that happens around me, I can choose how I respond to it. If I create a happy and grateful life, then I will be happy and feel grateful for my blessings.

I realize that not every day is an easy day. I have days when I get in a bad mood or when my blessings seem far away. But when those days happen, I try to get myself out of my bad mood as soon as I can. I prefer to be happy and grateful for my blessings. I think most of us are like that.

What do you find yourself looking for most in your life: the negatives or the positives? What is one thing you can do today to seek happiness and gratitude?

The Gift of True Friendship

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My Daily Musings-August 28th, 2026

“True friends are always together in spirit.” L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I have loved those novels since I was a teenager, and watching the movies added to my love for the books. I have been thinking about this quote because one of my best friends is moving to another state. I’m glad that we have good technology that will allow us to stay in touch with each other. But it’s still hard because she won’t be close by if I need her.

I have moved many times in my life; most of the time, it was to a different state in the USA. Each time was hard because I was leaving behind friends. I have noticed that true friends keep in contact with one another.

I don’t like saying goodbye to dear friends. Those moments are always so hard. This friend has been like a second mother to me, so I will really miss her. She and I both felt drawn to each other, and we both knew we were going to be good friends from the moment we started talking with one another. Those kinds of friends seem to stick because of the deep connection you share.

I’m grateful to all of the friends I have made and stayed in contact with along my journey in this life. You have all helped me through some difficult times and I appreciate you for all you have given me. We can all be a blessing in the lives of others. I have always believed that we are meant to be friends with some people because of similar experiences we have or lessons we can learn from each other.

We should never feel alone, even if we are far away from family and friends. Our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, are the truest and best friends we can ever have. They are always there for us.

Have you ever had a friendship that remained strong even when distance separated you? How have you felt Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ beside you during a season when you felt far away from the people you love?

The Power of Living in the Present

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My Daily Musings-June 20th, 2026

Patricia Holland once said, “Eliminate all ‘would haves,’ ‘should haves,’ and ‘if onlys.’ What has happened is past and finished. Leave it there. Profound power will come in living in the present.”

I love this quote because it’s so easy to spend time wishing things had turned out differently. We all have moments, choices, and circumstances we wish we could change. But when we focus too much on the past, we can miss the blessings that are right in front of us today.

The past is finished. While we can learn from it, we don’t have to live there. Choosing gratitude for what we have now helps us embrace the present and find joy in the life God has given us today.

Are there any “would haves,” “should haves,” or “if onlys” that you need to let go of? What blessings in your life right now deserve more of your attention and gratitude?