I once read in a sermon collection that angels gather our prayers in baskets and present them before God. In the story, two angels stood before the throne—one holding a basket of thanks, the other a basket of wishes. The basket of wishes was always overflowing, while the basket of thanks remained nearly empty. The angel holding it looked sorrowful, his face heavy with disappointment. Reading this, I was struck with sudden awareness.
Lately, my responsibilities at work have increased. At first, I felt burdened by my manager’s growing expectations, and resentment began to build in my heart. Naturally, my prayers began to shift: “Please don’t let me work overtime,” “Please make things as easy as they were before.” These were not prayers of faith, but complaints cloaked in petition. That’s when I realized that I needed to stop offering prayers born of frustration and start offering prayers of gratitude instead.
As my mindset shifted, I began to see that everything that had happened was according to God’s will. With that realization, even challenging situations began to feel like blessings. I became thankful simply to have a job, thankful for the opportunity to take on new challenges. I was grateful to be learning new skills in various areas and to be entrusted with work that would help me grow into a more capable vessel.
From then on, I began setting aside time each day to offer prayers of thanksgiving. The result was truly remarkable. My thoughts became more positive, and my days were filled with genuine joy that flowed from within. I give thanks to our Heavenly Father and Mother, who have granted us the command to give thanks, and the heart and courage to put it into practice.