I feel awful for not posting in a while...life is so crazy! I'm just starting my fourth transfer, and I'm really thinking it is going by too fast. Not a moment to lose!
We've only got about one more week until Thanksgiving. Where has this year gone?! I am so grateful for time. It is one of the most precious tools the Lord has given us. When a moment is gone, it truly is gone. Being on my mission has really taught me how precious time is. Use it wisely!
This transfer is going to be amazing. While it is not only Thanksgiving next week, and the skyping with family at the end of December (wahoo!), there is also Christmas lights coming up! My companion and I, along with all the other Sister Missionaries in the field went to the Mesa Temple Visitor Center this morning to finish our training for the Christmas lights. We are privileged to be able to be on the grounds during the whole duration of the Christmas Lights! I cannot even begin to tell ya'll how excited I am!!! We will be there every night to talk to people and share the joy of Christ's birth. What could be better?
After we were done with training, we got to see all the nativities from around the world that are displayed inside the Visitor Center. There was a nativity from Scotland, and I thought for sure that the wise men would be wearing kilts =) Another one was from Ireland, and it made me feel fairly close to my family (my dad served his own mission there).
There was a painting there that really stood out to me. It depicted the Hark Angels singing the joyful news of Christ's birth. All of them are women. All my life, I have always wondered where I was when Christ was born. Was I rejoicing in heaven? Was I one of the angels spoken of in the Bible that sang the news to the world? Might I have even been in a group like the painting showed? As I looked at that painting and pondered that question, I began to feel such a sweet, peaceful feeling that moved me to tears. I felt how important a moment Christ's birth was to the world, and how important it still is to us today. I have never understood the importance of Christmas like I do right now. It is all about the Savior finally coming after years and years of prophecies from ancient prophets. He had finally made it! Not only was He born that night, but the hope for a brighter future, or returning to live with our Heavenly Father, was born as well.
I know that my Savior lives. He was born in such humble circumstances, and lived a life that was pure and clean. I love this time of year so much! As we approach Thanksgiving, I encourage you to combine the two holidays together just a little bit. As you prepare that Thanksgiving meal that is such a special tradition, be thinking of why you are grateful for Jesus Christ. Why is having a personal relationship with him important to you? As you begin with Christ and are thankful for Him first, your gratitude for everything else around you will increase. You will grow a greater desire to grow closer to Him. As you are grateful for Christ and his coming, I promise that you will be able to feel his appreciation for you, too!
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