Dear Family,
Another year is winding down with a new one looking bright before us. Thanksgiving is placed perfectly in the holiday calendar. We have the opportunity to reflect on the blessings which our Father in Heaven has given us and look forward to the celebration of our Savior's birth and the birth of a new year. I hope all of Thanksgiving was as rewarding to you all as it was for me. There is a quote that reads, "You'll find that it's not the happiness that makes people grateful, but rather the gratitude that makes people happy."
This past week had been very slow for the work, but very rewarding for the soul. Reflection and "considering the blessings" has brought a new gratitude to my soul, ergo, happiness. I was able to reflect deeply upon life and all the blessings therein. I was able to recognize miracles which had hitherto been unseen. I was able to seek happiness.
Alma says, "This is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and the humble seeker of happiness" (Alma 27:18). This ancient council has once again been brought to our attention as President Uchtdorf says" "Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness, AND "This happiness comes as we find the abundant blessings in our day-to-day lives. This practise is much easier said than done, but the reward is so much more in our favour. Now we have even more to rejoice in, but never neglect the bad. If we only focus on the bad, we have to change our minds and FIND the good in all we do.
With this re-discovered truth, I was able to have an amazing Thanksgiving. The family we were going to eat with all got the stomach flu. So we ate at an older couple's home. One of their sons was there with his wife, and we had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. We did play Aggravation afterwards, and Brother Hawks plays like dad...
Sorry this letter is so short! If anyone wonders why I have not written them back, tell them I do not have any time!
Love,
Elder Rex Hamblin
P.S. Aunt Doris is amazing!
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