For His Mercy
As I think about all I have to be thankful for, I am humbled. God has been very merciful toward me. I can be selfish and fearful and unkind at times, but He has never forsaken me. When I remember that my moping and tantrums and pride go against His plan and I turn to him, He is always there. I need to strive to not take myself away from that light, love, and mercy, so that I can better reflect it toward those around me who are also in need of it. I am grateful that I am given this opportunity to repent over and over again.
For Science, Knowledge, and Technology
On our way through Amarillo, Texas, today, we stopped at this sculpture depicting a helium atom. If you didn’t know, the national helium reserve is in Amarillo. Reading about its discovery and many uses and later while comfortably driving at 80 mph on a smooth interstate with windmills generating electricity and hints of oil drilling in the distance, I couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the science, knowledge, and technology that blesses our lives everyday, that make our lives better in so many ways. I am grateful for those who have devoted their lives to discovering and creating by learning to apply eternal, natural laws. And, I am grateful for a loving omniscient being who has graced us with these bits and pieces and further understanding of the magnificent world we live in, from the luxuries that make our lives more convenient to the medical advancements that make the mortal frailties less of an obstacle to magnifying our short times on this Earth.
For Those Who Have Gone Before
I enjoy visiting the archeological sites of the U.S. Southwest. In my time living in Utah and Arizona, I have taken the opportunity to visit many of them. Today, while driving through the Four Corners area (in the Navajo or Dine Nation) and southern Utah, we made two small detours, one to visit the Lowry Pueblo in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and another to see Newspaper Rock just outside of the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. I have been fascinated for years by the history and culture of the ancient people who left these glimpses into the past. I’m grateful for their stories as told by their descendants in contemporary Native American tribes and by archaeologists. I’m grateful for those who have preserved this part of our collective American heritage. Unfortunately, this history isn’t widely taught or known across America, so their stories remain in the Southwest waiting for us to go and experience them for ourselves. I am grateful for those who have gone before. I am grateful for the interest and passion I’ve been blessed with for learning and appreciating the stories of the past.
For an Accepting Family
As a Latter-day Saint that is gay (sorry if this is news to you 
), promised blessings and my desires for a family of my own may not come to pass in this life or in a way I might have imagined. This is one reason I am extremely grateful for my nieces and nephews. When I moved back to China five years ago, I made a promise to myself to come stateside for every important milestone in their lives from baby blessings to baptisms. This brought me back to the states once or twice a year. I am grateful I had the means, a flexible job, and a boss to allow this. This year, after unexpectedly relocating back to the states due to covid, my brother and his wife have let me live with them, which allows me to have my nieces and nephews in my life everyday. I can’t share my gratitude for this enough. I am grateful for a family that loves and supports me for who I am and allows me to be a part of their lives. I am also grateful for friends who support me as I am. I know this isn’t the case for others. If that’s you, let me be a part of your family. You are loved, and I am grateful for you.
For the Power of Books and Reading
Today, I #givethanks for the power of books and reading. Over the past few years, I’ve made novel reading a central part of my English classes. My students enjoyed the books and our discussions about them. Over the past several months, I’ve been taking what I did and working on ideas for turning it into the next levels of curriculum for Amerlish.
Throughout all of our curriculum development, I’ve striven to ensure we have a diverse selection of stories and that our illustrations represent the diverse population of America. When George Floyd was killed and outrage sprang across the country and world, I thought about how I could make a difference and help end racist attitudes and behaviors in my sphere of influence. I know from my class that stories, real and fictional, can definitely help facilitate the conversation and open minds to other ways of thinking. Last year, we read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, I Am Malala, and others that my young Chinese students thoroughly enjoyed.
So, I reexamined my book list in hope of better diversifying the stories and authors our students would read. This lead me to some fantastic books by great authors from many backgrounds. New Kid by Jerry Craft, Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly, and I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosin are a few of my new favorites. I also really enjoyed In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse and The Legend of Jimmy Spoon. These stories and others have broadened my perspective and understanding of those different from me, and I know they’ll do that for our students as well. And, they’ve been fun and engaging reads, masterfully crafted by authors from different backgrounds.
As I state in my author bio on Amazon, stories connect us to our past and help us understand why things are how they are. I also believe that reading can help us change the future. I can’t wait to keep reading. I am grateful that I can read and that eventually I developed a love for reading.