Tenks Given

I wanted to take a moment and express my gratitude on this special day. The title of this post is a reference to my mission. I served my mission in Merida, Mexico. On my mission, we paid the sisters in the ward we were in to cook meals for us. It was Thanksgiving day 2000 and to be honest I had forgotten what day it was. We walked in to lunch that day, hot and sweaty from a hard morning, to find ourselves greeted by a full Thanksgiving meal. It included a roast chicken (turkey is not readily available where I was) mash potatoes, stuffing and pie. On the wall she had spelled out "Happy Tenks Given". It was such a touching experience to me to have her remember this day for me and my companion, two Americans in a foreign land where this holiday is not celebrated, far from their families. Without any reminder from us, she had gone out of her way to make us feel loved and important.

It is this concept of which I want to express my gratitude this day: love. Unrequested, pure unselfish love. My life has been filled with it.

I grew up the youngest son of parents who knew how to show this love. My loving father grew up in a home where this kind of love was absent, but because of his love, he fought and struggled the beasts of his pasts on a daily basis to make sure we had a better life. My mother has always found ways to give to her children anything and everything she could. There are many stories of cars, furniture, an unending barrage of food (my waistline may not be as grateful for this), and as much time as possible being given away without my dad's consent because she knew we needed it at that time. I am grateful for the love of parents.

I am grateful for the unselfish love of my dearest Tiffany. I am granted unending service from her on a daily basis. In place of seeking out her own dreams, she willing stays home teaching and caring for our children. When I, in my thoughtless ways, forget to do something, she is always there to fill in my mistakes without making me pay for it. Nothing is ever as big of deal as I think it is, once I have heard her comforting words. I am thankful for her love.

I am thankful for the incomprehensible love of my children. I am grateful that despite my many failings and the often cases of "the screams" I get, they still want to be held and kissed goodnight.

I am thankful for the love of my siblings. I am grateful that despite our serious efforts to make each others lives miserable early on, we have managed to become friends. I am grateful that despite the rarity of some of our conversations, we can talk as if we talk all the time. As an extension, I am grateful for their spouses and children who add additional joy to our familial relationship.

I am grateful for the love of my wife's family. While we may be a mashed up group right now adjusting to changes in our lives, the ongoing desire and willingness to try and make it work is an expression of our love for each other.

I would express a special appreciation for my brother-in-law, Toby. Toby is one of the greatest examples of love I have come to meet. Over the last year, he has given of himself to me, to my family, and to more people that I can count, with selfless abandon. At times, he is the third parent my children need. I am truly grateful for his love.

I am grateful for the unexpected love of friends and employers; those relationships that develop out of chance encounters and forced association that turn out to be the flavor of my daily experience.

I am grateful for the love of my God. I am grateful that despite my bounteous imperfections, I have a loving Father in Heaven, together with His perfect Son, who love me enough to hear my ongoing pleas for help and forgiveness.

These relationships of love sustain my everyday. They give me hope when I get frustrated by a world filled with anger, betrayal, and unwillingness to compromise. For the purity of these relationships, I express my gratitude this day.

Happy Tenks Given to you all. Thank you for your love.