Wow. What a night. Kev and I went over to the amazing Linda Hunt's house to practice the arrangement of "This is the Christ" we're singing on Sunday. Her husband is the bishop of our ward and shared some incredibly terrible news with us. Brian, a young husband and father of 3 boys in our ward, took his own life today. I don't know the family well, but I ache for his wife, his sons and his entire family. And I ache for him--that he had reached a point where he was completely without hope. That he had lost all understanding of the love and mercy the Lord offered him. How helpless Heavenly Father must have felt, wanting more than anything for Brian to overcome this trial, but only able to give as much of His light as he would receive. How alone Brian must have felt, how needlessly and tragically alone. How glad Satan must be right now that he succeeded in blinding this son of God enough to make him give up the fight. I still can't believe it.
Thankfully, I came home and checked my family's website and saw that a new countdown had been added!--Grandchild #12!!!! I called Matt, the administrator, thinking it might be his own countdown with Natalie, and if not, that he would know whose countdown it was. I won't say whose it is here and spoil the surprise for everyone else (or take the joy from the future parents being able to announce it themselves), but it was just the joyful news my heart needed to hear tonight. I'm so thankful another angel will be coming to join our family and I promise to do all in my power to make sure that this new tiny baby, as well as every person I know, KNOWS they are loved and KNOWS, deeply and completely, that there is ALWAYS hope through our Savior Jesus Christ.
"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth,"said Lehi.
And Helaman explained why: "remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."
Like Laura talked about on their blog, our most important responsibility is to teach our children this (like Lehi and Helaman were doing when they spoke these very words). And to teach them in a way that they do truly know. I think I'll put this post on the whaddaIdo Wednesday, but I'd love any advice toward this goal--either in comments here or on the family site. I guess, thinking back on my own progression towards this knowledge, the things that influenced me the most were the examples of Mom and Dad--I knew that they knew, like the stripling warriors' mothers--and then being in situations where I could feel the Spirit--at home, at church, in the temple, studying the scriptures, on my mission, etc. So I need to make sure my example shows my children that I know, and then help give them as many opportunities as possible to feel the Spirit on their own. Should be a piece of cake, right? ;)
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3 comments:
Kit - You have always had such a sweet perspective on life, not to mention testimony of our Savior. Thanks for your thoughts. I miss you. What is your phone number?
I just finished writing about Brian on my blog. I read your words and now I am crying again. It's so horrifying, so senseless.
But your words of testimony literally gave me chills. You are wonderful parents and don't need to worry about teaching your children. Every move you make is a testimony to them.
Love you. Always.
How precious is this gift of life! We shouted for joy just to think of receiving it! How very sad that Brian lost hope and vision. How precious is each new baby that comes to our family. In our family we like to play a lot of games. The thing that makes a game possible is everyone playing by the rules. In the game of life, Heavenly Father has the decision to say when each person's turn is over. How sad that Brian broke the rule and quit this life ahead of time. How sad for his suffering, but how much more sad for his wife and daughters and other family.
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