It was so awesome to see you! I am so grateful for modern technology that allows us to see each other and talk to each other. That really made my day -- Christmas was awesome because of that.
It was so good to hear your voices and to see you! I think on both skype calls we just spent the first couple of minutes smiling and staring at each other hahaha
Christmas is a little bit easier to be a missionary, but not a whole lot-- the really cool thing is specifically being able to be a representative of Jesus Christ at Christmastime. I hope that makes sense. It is very very cool. Just being a missionary is awesome in general though.
Did you get my Christmas card? I kinda piggybacked off of the cards that the Cheyenne East Stake was sending out-- it was the picture of the temple and the copy of the dedicatory prayer. I thought it was super cool.
There are a lot of things I am also grateful for this Christmas. It includes my family and friends, other missionaries, the restored gospel, and sleep. (We can take long naps today because it's Pday woohoo!)
But the thing I am most grateful for is the gift of Jesus Christ. His life, His ministry, His example, His teachings, His doctrine, and most of all, His Atonement. He is what I am most grateful for.
You know, I think on my mission I am learning the formula for having true joy all the time. I think I am learning how to be truly happy. Of course, it is living the gospel. But two big things that bring so much joy are repentance and gratitude. I remember in one of my blog posts a while back I shared a quote from Joseph F. Smith about how gratitude brings us joy. And I have also learned, like Elder Renlund taught in his talk last Conference, repentance is a joyful choice and a joyful process.
It is hard for me to hear about how difficult it has been for you recently. I know that Heavenly Father weeps when we do. I know He cares about all of the things that bring us sadness. Lucy came into our lives (and our family) and brought us a lot of joy and love. She showed us that maybe sometimes it's okay to be hyper and crazy, because you're happy.
You know what? All things testify of Christ. This is a true statement. I think that Lucy also testified of our Savior by showing us unconditional love, and by showing us a little bit more of how to enjoy life.
It is hard to see these things as they occur. It is hard for me to miss you guys and to know when I come home that a part of my family will be missing. But when we choose to focus on the good things in life, we choose to have joy, even in hard times. Our Heavenly Father and Savior can be joyful not because lots of good things happen in their lives, but because of their love for us. I honestly think that God can be as joyful as He is because He fully experiences the pain and sadness. There really is opposition in all things. It is a hard principle to bear, but I know that God will consecrate our afflictions for our gain when we turn to Him. (2 Nephi 2:1-3 I think)
Thanks for being an example to me of faithfulness and love. It is definitely hard to be apart but I know that any and all sadness that comes from the separation will make the reunion even more sweet and joyful when it happens.
Elder Bush
Video is of the elders eating chili with cinnamon rolls, apparently a thing in Cheyenne...
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