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Ten Things of Thankful: #GeneralConference Anticipation

 

Jesus Christ stands in an crowd of kneeling worshippers, with the caption "Peace be unto you." 
source

In last week's post, I expressed gratitude for some things that hadn't actually happened yet, but that I hoped would soon. This week, I'm thankful that some of those things have happened--and I'm still holding out hope that the others will. In addition, I'm thankful in advance for other events. 

To revisit last's week's anticipatory items:

  • My air purifier was repaired, the company sent it back to me, and I'm thankful for clean air.
  • The car wash company accepted responsibility for the accident, have authorized a check to be written to the repair company, and I'm thankful I have an appointment scheduled for the new bumper to be installed.
  • The shop did get the van repaired, though not in time for me to renew the tags before the end of September. However, I'm thankful that the state of Utah offers a temporary registration for only $6 which grants me another month to get the emissions test passed. 
  • I'm still waiting for the health insurance reimbursement check, but I'm thankful the expense was approved and I'm still holding out hope that the check will actually be issued soon.
This week, some of you might have decided, as I did, to tune into the presidential debates. I generally do not like talking politics, because the topic is so devisive, but I think almost everyone would agree that the "debate" was downright awful. I wanted to hear about issues, not listen to juvenile arguing and name-calling. I'm thankful to be old enough to remember most of these exchanges from past political debates: 


Did you notice how the candidates took turns speaking? When Reagan had a zinger for Mondale, Mondale did not angrily attack Reagan, but instead laughed along with the audience. I chose this video because it was relatively short, but I watched several others. In one of them, Bush responded to the same question asked of Dukakis, and said, "We just have an honest difference of opinion." 

Society in general seems to be missing the idea that people can have honest differences of opinion without being ___________(fill in a negative adjective). I'm thankful for parents and teachers who have taught me that we don't have to hold the same opinions to be civil to each other. We can be more than civil; we can be friends. Friendship is not conditioned on being of the same political party, the same religious affiliation, the same background, the same race, the same. . . . 

While I was frustrated with the debate on Tuesday night, when I looked at the calendar on Wednesday morning, I was reminded that General Conference is this weekend. When I watch General Conference, I am filled with hope and peace, and feel encouraged--the opposite of how I felt after the debate on Tuesday. This following video was made from a talk given at the last General Conference. If you take the time to watch it, you will feel better, too.



I'm thankful for General Conference, and for messages of peace, hope, and encouragement. If you'd like to watch this weekend, you can watch at churchofjesuschrist.org. The website can be viewed (and the conference talks translated) in many different languages by clicking on the globe icon in the top right hand corner of the screen. 

Other things I'm thankful for this week include ripe cantaloupes from my garden, and a new peach tree to plant (for some reason the one I planted in the spring never leafed out.) And, as always, I'm thankful for John, who is not only my husband, but my best friend, too. 

What are you thankful for this week? Come join the Ten Things of Thankful community and share your thoughts with us! 

Joining me at the blog hop this week:


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Comments

  1. I love this post! I didn't see the presidential debate, as I'm not in the USA and don't care to hear childish arguing. I agree 100% that we can and in fact should be civil with people who hold different opinions to us. Enjoy the general conference! I will check out the site.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! You didn't miss anything by missing the debate. I hope you enjoy General Conference!

      Delete
  2. The presidential debate was broadcast in Japan, too, and I watched a fraction of it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was very difficult to watch more than just a portion of it.

      Delete
  3. Keep holding on to hope that we can be friends, even if we aren't the same...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I will! My life is infinitely better because of my family and friends--and we don't all look or think alike.

      Delete
  4. That latest debate stressed me out and I had to get up and do something else that night.

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  5. I loved the videos you shared. I am glad you found the CNN video. What a glaring comparison to what we saw this week.
    Did you and Drexel have a race to see who got the cantaloupe first? :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was nice to see the old debates, to remind myself that there really was a reason I liked watching presidential debates. With any luck, maybe sometime there will be a return to civility.

      Drexel never misbehaves when we are looking. He only got one cantaloupe; we've been able to harvest the rest. :-)

      Delete
  6. Kinda forgot it was on... lol (even the insatiable curiosity of my people has limits)

    One the things about this virtual world is that is is a virtual world (which offers the opportunity to get literal with it's name)

    Enjoyable TToT this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I kinda wish I had forgotten it was on, too.

      Thanks! Have a good week!

      Delete
  7. How nice to see good outcomes from the items you mentioned last week! I couldn’t agree with you more about the presidential debate, it was so disturbing. Sometimes I wish we had a magic slate that we could just pull the film, erase the present picture, and start with a whole new scenario on both sides. I am sure that the General Conference was completely the opposite in tone, and I will be back later to listen to the clip you shared. Fresh cantaloupes from the garden sounds lovely, one of my favorite fruits! Thank you for continuing this blog hop, it is truly a gift to our spirits!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am so thankful for everyone who participates in the TToT. It certainly is a breath of fresh air, just as General Conference is.

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  8. Daughter watched general conference and called me when Brother U came on. She knows I'm a fan of his. She went to a watch party on Sunday. I'm grateful for her dedication.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think everyone loves Uchtdorf! He is a wonderful speaker.

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