Thoughts About Thanksgiving

Hi everybody!
I can clearly remember weekday mornings at 6:15 making our way through the bitter cold to early morning seminary. It was just my mom and I in the car and as soon as the calendar clicked over to November, Josh Groban’s Christmas Album would be playing. We would justify it by saying he had a song about being Thankful and that it was actually a Thanksgiving song. I caught myself multiple times this week humming that tune and thinking about the words. (Apparently music is still a big part of my life since that’s what I talked about last week too)

Here are some of those words to the best of my memory:

So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And on this day we hope for
What we still can’t see
It’s up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There’s so much to be thankful for

It truly is up to us. Our thoughts, our kindness, our service is what makes a difference. There is so much to be thankful for in the world!

This Thanksgiving I have been thinking a lot about a little black badge, my missionary nametag. I wear it full time. Sometimes when the days are extra exhausting I even wear it to bed, falling asleep in my clothes. My name on top, the name of my family, the ones who I love so much. Christ’s name right below, the name that I have the blessing of carrying right over my heart. I love this little badge so much. Not because of what it is, but all because of what it stands for. It stands for the choice I made, the choice that every missionary makes, to put the Lord first in my life. It stands for the choice we as missionaries make each day, to stand up and to reach out and to do the things that are hard because they lead to the things that are good. The things that are more than good- moments that are more wonderful than we can ever put into words, no matter how fervent our testimonies. It’s the little black badge that I proudly introduce myself with each day, brushing back my hair (when it’s not in a bun) and beaming as I tell people why I am here and why I can’t keep in my smile. Some of you reading this are missionaries right now. If you are, don’t forget for even a second how lucky you are to be serving. Maybe the good is hard to find, but surely the hard is good to have. It makes each of us connect with the name we wear, and with the Atonement, connecting then with Christ himself. For the ones that aren’t, or the ones that were, just because you don’t have the badge doesn’t mean you don’t still carry the name. You carry the name as you partake in the sacrament each week. There you promise to be willing to take his name upon you. You take it upon yourself in word and in deed and in action and in thought. Remember that this week, and don’t let it go.

I have a testimony of this gospel and a testimony of this work. I have more gratitude than I could ever put into words, and more joy than l can ever strike into a pose, all because I get to wear Christ’s name, and because I make that choice again each day.

We have amazingly busy weeks filled with incredible visits and exchanges with other Sisters! We’ve been taking time to focus on the little miracles and even try some crazy food like stinky tofu! (Actually tastes really good)

Short and sweet, but I think you get the point of how much I love being a missionary!

I hope you all have a great week!

I love you all so so so much!!!

安姐妹