Monday, November 23, 2009

Gratitude for our bodies

Sometimes I think I forget to thank God for this body of mine. I do pray often to keep it moving, going and healthy... but fail to remember what an amazing thing it is. I was reading in the book called STANDING FOR SOMETHING by Gordon B. Hinckley and in there he talks about how we should be grateful for our bodies. Since this is the month that reminds us to be more thankful, I thought I would share an excerpt from his book.

"TO BEGIN WITH, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WONDERS OF THE HUMAN BODY AND THE MIRACLE OF THE HUMAN MIND AS CREATIONS OF THE ALMIGHTY. I HAVE IN MY HOME A REASONABLY GOOD SOUND SYSTEM. NOW AND AGAIN I SIT QUIETLY IN THE SEMIDARKNESS AND LISTEN FOR AN HOUR OR SO TO MUSIC THAT HAS ENDURED THROUGH THE CENTURIES BECAUSE OF ITS REMARKABLE QUALITIES. EVERY TIME I LISTEN TO BEETHOVEN'S CONCERTO FOR THE VIOLIN, I MARVEL THAT SUCH A THING COULD COME OF THE MIND OF A MAN. IN MANY RESPECTS, THE COMPOSER WAS MUCH LIKE THE REST OF US. HE GOT HUNGRY, FELT PAIN, AND HAD MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ALL HAVE--AND PERHAPS SOME THAT WE DO NOT HAVE. BUT OUT OF THE GENIUS OF HIS MIND CAME A TREMENDOUS BLENDING TO CREATE RARE AND MAGNIFICENT MASTERPIECES OF MUSIC.

HAVE YOU EVER CONTEMPLATED THE WONDER OF YOURSELF, THE EYES WITH WHICH YOU SEE, THE EARS WITH WHICH YOU HEAR, THE VOICE WITH WHICH YOU SPEAK?  NO CAMERA EVER BUILT CAN COMPARE WITH THE HUMAN EYE. NO METHOD OF COMMUNICATION EVER DEVISED CAN COMPARE WITH THE VOICE AND THE EAR. NO PUMP EVER BUILT WILL RUN AS LONG OR AS EFFICIENTLY AS THE HUMAN HEART. WHAT A REMARKABLE CREATURE EACH OF US IS! WE CAN THINK BY DAY AND DREAM BY NIGHT. WE CAN SPEAK AND HEAR, SMELL AND TASTE AND FEEL. WE CAN STORE WHAT WE EXPERIENCE AND LEARN IN A REMARKABLE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM UNMATCHED BY THE MOST SPECTACULAR COMPUTER. WE CAN LEARN AND GROW AND PROGRESS AND BECOME BETTER TOMORROW THEN WE ARE TODAY."

I loved the way he talked about the wonders of our bodies. Some times we are quick to remember what our bodies CAN"T DO ANYMORE ( me included ), but forget to be thankful for all the wonderful things IT CAN DO! I need to remember this more often. I still have so much to be thankful for and this was a wonderful reminder for me. I think when we see a little baby we always acknowledge the wonder and beauty of their little bodies but some how we lose that wonder as we get older and take for granted all that it can do. So tonight, I am grateful for my body, even with all it's illnesses and pains ...I am grateful for it. I hope you will be too. Good night!

"Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul."
Wayne Dyer

"OUR BODIES COMMUNICATE TO US CLEARLY AND SPECIFICALLY, IF WE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THEM."  ~Shakti Gawain

"Wisdom is to the soul what health is to the body."
De Saint-Real

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