"He waketh morning by morning"

 

I wanted to explain something about the Hispanic culture. They are always partying! If they have an excuse to throw a party (like Mother's day) they call ALL of their extended family together and have a huge BBQ smattered with delicious food and tons of laughter. Sometimes these parties last all night. Literally until 6 am. They love to savor life.

I found a scripture in my studies this week that I really loved. I've told you how if I feel any oppression, it is when I first wake up. In 2 Ne. 7:4 there is a line that stands out: "When you are weary, He waketh morning by morning." Though Jesus Christ is the Creator of our world and the Redeemer of all mankind, He experiences our pains and our sorrows in the exact way that we feel them. Though He has all power and eons of time in His hands, because of the nature of the Atonement, His time becomes my time. He experiences each moment of oppression, doubt, and fear with me each morning and comprehends how my sorrows feel to ME, even though compared to everything else He has felt, my little sadnesses are probably pretty insignificant. We have a Savior who has taken upon Himself our own hearts. He understands all of the different faucets of our grief and guilt, and all the yearnings that we have, and knows exactly how hard it is and why. He knows how long one moment or one morning can feel, because He feels exactly what we are feeling. And yet He has said, "Fear not little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost."

I love you all! (No. I will not say "ya'll". Though I have taken to saying one of my favorite lines from down here: "Aw, beans.") I am really starting to settle into this whole thing. I'm getting used to having a companion, loving her, and looking for opportunities to serve her. I'm learning to be happy, like Aunt-Carolyn-singing-happy, about the tiniest little things. I am learning to look to God for the most important things and think very little about the things which matter least (like being 30 pounds heavier when I come home, how much the Houston temple looks like a Disneyland castle...ahhhh..Disneyland, or the cravings I have to garden and cook. Although when people don't answer their door I usually dead-head a couple of their petunias or weed a little for them. I say it's for them, but it's really for me.) I am learning to find happiness in seeking the eternal welfare of other people's souls rather than trying to find dumb little things that will bring me pleasure. I have always been grateful for my family, but never more than now. You are all amazing. It is amazing how you all love me. I am going to work hard enough here that maybe the small sacrifices I make will merit the incomprehensible blessing that each of you are to me.

Spencer, yesterday shared a great line with me from Lord of the Rings, "Sam, you can't always be torn in two." This has already helped me begin to savor this great time of my mission. Amazing how Lord of the Rings never fails to help me understand great eternal principles.

I would just like to counter with another quote from Lord of the Rings that I find myself saying often here in Texas:

  "The salted pork is particul'lly good!"