“Do what feels good.” This phrase has been used to advertise products or promote a lifestyle based on pleasure seeking. This exact statement may not be prevalent in these words as much now as it was in the not-distant past, but the underlying philosophy remains.
It’s a worldly counterfeit to an eternal truth.
When we follow Christ’s example in going about doing good, and especially when we have received the gift of the Holy Ghost by one holding the authority to bestow it, we can feel the Lord’s approval through the Comforter. Specifically, when we give of ourselves, we can feel good in our hearts. This is much of what makes Christmas a special time for those who celebrate it.
One of the most significant aspects of Christmas giving for me comes because of my position as a parent. I love to find the gifts that I know my kids will be excited about. In fact, just in the last few weeks, I had an idea for a particular gift for one of my children. In a subsequent conversation, she unwittingly confirmed that I was on the right track. I had a clearly positive feeling lasting into the next day.
As with many facets of parenting, this is a representation of our Heavenly Father’s nature. I imagine He is full of goodwill and desire to bless us all of the time. I haven’t always been sure that He feels that way toward me, but that perception—or perhaps the lack of perception—was a problem with myself that I had to overcome.
I wrote the Parable of the Anonymous Gift to explore this but also to look at what it may feel like for Him when we see what He gives us but don’t recognize the source, let alone express appreciation. I would not be surprised to learn that in some fashion, our Father mourns when we accept the gift but pass no thought on the Giver—because He wishes us to draw near Him.
In an 1831 revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:21). The latter group is probably obvious, but the former group is one we might not think about if the Lord didn’t call it out. (It may bear mentioning here that when the Lord’s wrath is mentioned in scripture, it’s not out-of-control anger like we typically think; it may more correctly be thought of as divine judgment).
How much better to be among the group that the ancient prophet Mormon described: “And now behold, this I speak unto their [Israel’s] seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come” (Mormon 5:10).
I didn’t intent for this to become a post about gratitude, but I think it’s appropriate to mention that as the next step beyond mere recognition of the source of our blessings. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding. As disciples of Christ, we are commanded to ‘thank the Lord [our] God in all things,’ to ‘sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving,’ and to ‘let [our] heart be full of thanks unto God.’ Why does God command us to be grateful? All of His commandments are given to make blessings available to us. Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness” (“Grateful in Any Circumstances”).
I try to give Heavenly Father credit for the good things that happen in my life because I imagine I’ll be right the majority of the time. I’m not much by myself, and anything that I am or have that is good is because of Him and His goodness and desire to bless me and my family. Noticing even the small things and expressing gratitude to God for them will lift the heart. Give as God does, and be grateful to Him—and thereby do what feels good.
Photo by Manuel Aldana on Pexels.com
On commenting: Please share your thoughts! You can leave an email address, but it’s not required. Leaving an email address may prompt you to sign in with a social media or WordPress account.
The Weekly Parable 