Today’s reading: Mosiah 16:10-17:20
8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
My testimony of this scripture today is short and sweet and simple. The words in verse 8 touch my heart and give me so much hope. I am grateful for the knowledge that there is life after death and that we will see our loved ones again someday. It comforts me and gives me peace to know that we will be resurrected one day and it will be oh-so-sweet.
Over the past few years my little girls have had to say good-bye to several great-grandparents, a grandpa, and the baby brother of their best friend. We have had several conversations about death and heaven. One thing my husband and I have tried to make sure they know is that although we will miss these loved ones on earth, we will see them again. And now they get to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We make sure to help them know what a happy and wonderful thing that is! We also talk a lot about our loved ones being resurrected.
For the past year, every day and night my six and four year old include in their prayers that “Grandpa will be resurrected.”
Their testimony of this principle is simple.
They believe that someday they will see their grandparents again. They believe that they will “come back” as they put it, and have their body and spirit reunited. They may not understand how it works exactly, or comprehend that we don’t know when it will happen; but they have the faith that it will happen. And that is enough.
Today I would like to share an experience that touched my heart recently.
A few months ago my grandmother passed away after living with Alzheimer’s Disease for many years. Her death was very bittersweet because although she was now free from her broken mind and body, I couldn’t help but cry tears of sadness as I remembered how she used to be and the memories I had of her.
We were able to travel to Lewiston, Idaho to attend her funeral with our two daughters.
After the funeral and the graveside dedicatory prayer, we gathered back at the chapel for the luncheon.
Later, as we were getting ready to leave I noticed my sweet four year old walking slowly behind me. In her hand she held a flower she had been given off of her great-grandmother’s casket. I observed her for a moment and I watched as she delicately pulled one petal at a time off of her flower, dropping them behind her as she walked.
She noticed me watching her and without me asking what she was doing, she proudly exclaimed:
“I’m leaving a trail of flowers for G.G. so she can find her way back after she’s resurrected!”
She then went on to drop flower petals on the ground all the way to the car, and continued to throw petals out the car window, one at a time until there were no more.
My eyes teared up as I witnessed this powerful and spiritual scene.
I think sometimes as adults- myself included- we over complicate things. We might lose sight of the big picture and focus more on what we don’t understand or the things that make us sad or worried.
I was reminded in that moment of the innocence of children and how they have the most tender hearts and are so in-tune to the Spirit. They have so much to teach us and they are filled with so much obedience and faith. As my heart was mourning the loss of my beloved grandma, my four year old was filled with joy and was looking forward to the day that her “GG” would be resurrected. She was thinking ahead to that time and was showing the faith she had that her great-grandma would one day “come back”.
“If we have a heart to learn and a willingness to follow the example of children, their divine attributes can hold a key to unlocking our own spiritual growth” — Jean A. Stevens
It is my prayer today that each of us will turn our hearts more to the children and draw strength from their faith and testimonies. They are so close to the spirit- they feel things in a way that we might overlook. We can learn so much and have our hearts softened as we take the time to slow down, observe and remember the simple and basic elements of His Church.
I was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado but now call Bountiful, Utah home. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband (we met on a blind date!) and two beautiful daughters. I get to be a stay-at-home mom which I love. I’m also a Netflix binge watcher and an avid reader. I love shopping at Target, dark chocolate and spending time with our friends and family. Surviving the Columbine High School shooting as a teenager , battling infertility as an adult and knowing I am a daughter of God has helped me to look for the good in the world and focus on the tender mercies in my life. My passion is writing and sharing my heart and soul with others.