-Always have a harmonica
-Family is meant to have fun
-No one is more important than your eternal companion (he and my great grandma were married for 75 years before she passed away last year).
-Magic penny tricks are cool
-So is a spoon collection
-Never forget to be thankful
-The power of the priesthood is real
-Always have a smile for everyone!
-Laugh hard and enjoy life
-There's room for everyone at the table
-There is always time for children
-Move forward with faith and everything will work out
-Don't be afraid to grieve
-Love with all your heart
I have a lot of memories of my great grandparents. They were- and area- amazingly faithful people, who were a light to everyone around them. I remember one time when we visited, we brought the game "Bannanagrams" with us and we had a ball taking all kinds of funny pictures with the banana shaped bag and we laughed so hard. I remember when I was in college, we'd go up for family dinners every other week (and everyone was invited) and when we played a game my grandpa would always help my grandma- she was in the early stages of dementia.He always sat next to her and held her hand. They loved each other so much. Seventy five years is a long time.
I knew when I left on my mission that it was likely they wouldn't be here when I returned. And that was true. My great-grandpa passed away just a week or two before I came home. My great grandma passed away last year. This past weekend, we went to Utah- my first time being there since they were gone. Their house is so empty- the spoon collection is gone, dispersed among their many descendants (I have one). That bass fish that hung on their wall and sang "Don't Worry, Be Happy"- my favorite thing as a kid- that is gone too. Their furniture is gone. The armchairs they'd sit in- gone. The table we sat at for family dinners- gone. But most notably, they were gone and I didn't realize exactly how much I'd miss them.
But they're together again- I'm sure that was a joyous reunion. And I will see them again someday. I have the assurance of a temple sealing to rely on. We are a family forever. And They lived faithful lives, so now it's my task to live a life they can be proud of. To be sealed in the temple and remain faithful and worthy. To continue to try through the hard times. To understand what "forever" really means.
I also would like to challenge each of you to attend the temple, even if it's just walking the grounds, and remember the power of the priesthood. Remember the holiness of the ordinances. Remember that it is possible and it is worth it. My great-grandparents are examples of that. They can be together for eternity because they participated in sacred ordinances and then lived to be worthy of a place in the celestial kingdom. And I'm sure it was hard for them. But I'm also sure that it was worth it.
On their 75th anniversary
A picture I took at my cousin Larissa's wedding- they were always together and now they never have to be apart again
No comments:
Post a Comment