Ever since President Uchtdorf's talk during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional I have not been able to stop thinking about receiving gifts. I think that it was a beautiful message and one that need to be addressed, at least for me. I think of the two most perfect and generous gift-givers--Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ--and how much they offer me if I will only accept it. They offer love, forgiveness, eternal life, repentance, commandments that keep me safe and I often don't receive those gifts-most often because I don't feel like I deserve them. They will never withhold any of those gifts from me or any of you-they want us to have them! So the past couple of days I have tried harder to be better at receiving gifts. Most of the gifts that I have received that I have appreciated so much have been the most simple things. Here are a few that I would like to share
- Family. I love that I receive texts and phone calls from family member without fail every day. I never tire of talking to them or hearing what they are up to. I so appreciate their concern on my behalf and their willingness to serve me. Here is one of the videos that I received in one of the texts this past week. Cute little Ava is 2 and she is a doll. There was a show on of someone that was covered in snakes. She is just so sweet.
- Dutchness. I love the Netherlands mostly because I love all of the Dutch people. On Saturday I received the gift of going to a Sinterklaas part at Familie Koots home. Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet came all of the way from Holland to visit us there! I received the gift of being able to speak in the Dutch language again. I received the gift of seeing wonderful mission friends. I received the gift of tasting Dutch cheese and Sinterklaas goodies again. It was a wonderful gift of a night.
- Serving. Service is one of the greatest gifts that I receive! Saturday morning we had Tish's bridal shower and it was a gift to me to be able to help out with it. It was a gift to see friends there. It is a gift to have Tish as a friend. I really want to be able to serve more. The opportunities are endless. I was reading on my mission blog today because I remember a time at the end of my mission when a member called us and asked us to serve her! I was so excited!!! If you want to read about the experience, you may click here. If you want to give me a wonderful gift, allow me to serve you:)
- Words. One of the most wonderful gifts that I have received this week is the gift of kind words. On Sunday we have a jar filled with paper and pens that is passed around during Relief Society to write love-filled notes to others. After Relief Society ended I received these five wonderful notes! They were all filled with the kindest of words-some from anonymous senders. It maybe took them 30 seconds to write the notes but they will be cherished and remembered forever! I also love words in texts, words on the phone, words spoken in person-I have received a lot of uplifting words this week.
- Friends. I have been able to spend so much time with friends and that has been a wonderful gift. I am thankful for the friends that I have had for a long time and those that I am just getting to know. I am thankful for the gift of Family Home Evening, a delicious dinner made by Aaron, shopping and movies with friends, etc., etc., etc. I have wonderful friends.
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