A Mega Thanksgiving Feast

There is something about people and food and laughter that just make me ridiculously happy.  This is why Thanksgiving is pretty grand.  I won't be spending this Thanksgiving with my family.  Well, not my related-by-blood family.  Instead, I spent last night eating an embarrassing amount of ham and potatoes with a different kind of family, my Flagstaff Mormon church family.  I think they are fantastic!  We are all different, but we "meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of [our] souls" (Moroni 6:5), and I love them more than I can really say.  We, one little congregation of God's church in Flagstaff, AZ, are just a small part of the World Mormon Church family.

And this is the best kind of family to be a part of.  It isn't super functional all the time; feelings get hurt, chores have to be done, sometimes we argue, sometimes we just stare at each and hope no one notices we're related.  Mostly, we love each other and help each other.  Mostly, we all struggle and strive and wonder how we're going to measure up to the missions and tasks God has given us.  Mostly, we want to be better and make this world a better place and have hope that one day, through Jesus Christ, we can succeed.

The whole meal as I looked around that room and saw the smiling faces of the people I loved being stuffed with the bounteous goodness, a feeling kept coming over me that I didn't have a word for.  It was big and warm and made me smile that kind of stupid grin that can't be stopped or restrained.  I looked for that word all night.  This morning, I found it in 1 Timothy 6:7-8

"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith CONTENT."

In this my beautiful, crazy, imperfect Mormon Church family, I am content.  This is a complex feeling.  Content doesn't mean without trial or doubt or question.  There is much I don't know or understand, but what I do know and what I do understand dress my spirit and feed my soul with purpose and truth.  And being thus clothed and fed, I am content.  

You can learn more about my family here and here.