William Shakespeare said, "O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.” The holiday season, which began in earnest this past week with our celebration of Thanksgiving, provides us with good reasons for gratitude because there is so much for which to be thankful.

Certainly this week has afforded Elaine and me the opportunity to reflect on the blessings in our lives. Like many of you, we have a wonderful family – six children, 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren at last count – which we love and cherish.

Reflecting on my upbringing, I also have been flooded with warm and wonderful memories. My dear parents, Jesse and Helen Hatch, raised me in a home filled with love, compassion and understanding. They instilled in me, early on, the importance of thrift, hard work and faith in God and country.

 Indeed, the admirable way they lived their lives has always inspired me to reach higher and strive to exemplify the highest moral standards in mine own. I am forever humbled and indebted to them for their example and the sacrifices they made to raise our family.

I feel the same way about my wonderful wife. What a blessing Elaine has been in my life since our marriage 55 years ago. Her love, patience and kindness know no bounds. She has been a true partner who has remained strong and supportive in good times and bad. And we both are incredibly thankful and proud of our family.

That gratitude and pride carries over to our veterans who have sacrificed so much at so dear a cost to protect our freedoms. I also cannot help but reflect on our men and women who are now serving to safeguard our liberty. Many of them will be far from home over the holidays, and my heart and prayers – like yours – go out to them this season and to the family and friends they have left behind. We owe them so much.

I also treasure my faith, our great nation, and the privilege I have to serve you and our remarkable state of Utah as a United States senator. I draw so much strength and inspiration from your example and your prayers in my behalf. It is an honor and sacred responsibility to represent you – and that service is something I never take lightly.

As we celebrate this holiday season, it is my hope we all will take time to count our blessings. Let us remember that although our nation faces many challenges, it remains an ensign of freedom and a beacon of hope to the world.  Let us not forget that we truly do live in a land of promise.

Finally, let us not only express gratitude for our abundant blessings, but also reach out to those who are in need. May we be selfless with our time and generous with our donations of food, clothing and other necessities to those who are going through hard times. And may our care and compassion extend to those who are lonely, downcast or otherwise struggling.

In summation, let us maintain an attitude of gratitude. Sure, Thanksgiving is over, but gratitude is still very much in season. As Swiss philosopher Henri-Frederic Amiel said, “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.

May we all act accordingly – not only during the holidays, but throughout the year.