To my family as far West as California and as far North as Michigan and East as England as well as those in between and spread across the states and even those spread across the city that we reside in together,
Earlier this morning, I was thinking about the impact and the role family has played in my life when it comes to support and encouragement in addition to the faith. My family has done more for me than I could think I could ever do for them in return. If I was serving them for the remainder of my life, I still feel that the scale of weights would fall to side opposite to me. This morning, I was thinking and I wanted to give a tribute and thank you to my cousin and his wife, Nathan and Angela. I am currently in Cambodia, which is a country we were able to discuss together (among others I’ve travelled to) at a dinner we had together, us 3, in San Francisco. We were flying from South America through California all the way to Thailand and we had a 24-hour layover in San Francisco, where they live close to in Oakland. Having been on the field for 2 months, I was able to ship some necessities to them that I needed and could pick up from them. We were able to meet after a day of work and get some dinner in the city and just spend some time together too. I was super thankful for this little act of kindness and generosity that they were able to show me. It encouraged me to go out and serve the people that I come into contact with on the rest of the race. It also pushed me to be continually thankful of all that my family does for me. This is one of many many examples of the little things, some bigger, that my family has done for me throughout my life that I am unbelievably thankful for. I can’t wait to get back home and serve my family the way that they’ve served me my entire life.
I’ve learned a lot early on in the race about entitlement versus gratitude and this ties into my heart returning from this trip. I could look at all that my family does for me through the lens of entitlement and tell myself that I deserve all they do for me because I’m their son, cousin, grandson, or brother or I could look through all they do for me through the lens of gratitude and see how grateful I can be for all that they do for me. And this is the lens I find myself seeking to look through when I return from the race. Thank you to all of my family members for all the kindness that you’ve shown me my whole life and all that you’ve done for me. There are decisions that I’ve made that I truly regret making out of my immaturity and I am sorry for those and ask your forgiveness for them as well. I’ve overlooked opportunities to spend time with you while I was drowning in my own selfishness but I can promise this:
Not even beginning when I get back but beginning now, I will be better. I want you to know that I will do my best to serve you and show you the kindness that you’ve shown me my entire life.
Thank you,
Brenton
