Thanksgiving, giving and gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving… kind of late. mmmm… pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, corn on the cob, cranberry sauce, homemade rolls, gravy… I ate tacos dorados.

These weeks have been the busiest of my life! It’s the end of the cycle which is when I have lots of work and it’s the end of the month which is also when I have lost of work. Plus we’ve been driving all around the mission delivering new beds and other supplies through out the mission… Then I got the dreaded email from the financial director for all the missions in Mexico saying I have to close out all the finances for the year (Jan-Nov) this week and have all the reports turned in. I’m not sure if I explained that as a non-prophet organization we need receipts for EVERYTHING and that makes a lot of reports. So I’ve been busy!

That’s exciting that Kerry is back and will be with some of the family for Thanksgiving. I realized at about 7:30 am that it was Thanksgiving Day and that mom was probably in the kitchen preparing dough for the rolls or pies, then I quickly changed my thoughts.

Really quickly the things I am grateful for are:
• my Family (I state it every night in my prayers)
• the Restored Gospel
• and my country  ;)

I love the tradition of giving thanks, because when we recognize all that we have been given, we are happier. We focus less on gaining more (what we don’t have), and more on giving what we do have.  It is the opposite of materialism and selfishness, and materials can NEVER bring us happiness. Giving thanks is an act of humility, and humility is a sign of strength. Like exercise, it is hard, but as we develop it we become healthier, stronger, happier and more beautiful.

I believe that sincere gratitude (including expressing it) is essential for our health and well being. It is sad to see how we sometimes allow ourselves to be deceived into believing that happiness and self-worth are determined by or possessions.

¿Do we measure our own wealth on how much we gain or on how much we give? Giving, especially through service, is the true way to express one’s gratitude and to obtain real wealth.

I love you, my family, and am truly grateful for every one of you, your love and support, and sacrifices on the family’s behalf. I pray that you will continue to humbly serve one another.

-Bryce