With great sadness I received a phone call today tenderly informing me that the husband (truly one of those rare men of greatness and humility) of one of my dearest friends passed away suddenly this morning. My heart has been heavy. My hands hang down. My tears cloud up my contacts.
I went to the San Clemente Stake Christmas Concert tonight looking for music to lift my spirit, particularly as the shock of the news was beginning to wear off and my emotions were coming forth in waves.
It was already crowded in the large hall, but as I looked for a seat for one, I heard a friendly voice, say, "Joyce, come sit by our family." I was so surprised but pleasantly so that someone had noticed and asked me to join them. And yet because they were even farther back from the front from where I started to sit down they said, "Hey, you'd probably get a much better seat up closer. There's always room for one." And so there was. I walked up towards the front and an usher seated me next to a darling woman who was very friendly as we soon discovered that I'd been close friends, in fact almost roommates, with her sister-in-law at BYU. It was fun to play quick catch up before the lights dimmed.
The music was beautiful, the voices talented, and the energy palpable from the program. But with the closing number from the childrens' choir, my heart felt heavy again as reality set in, and I thought of my friend and her girls and her grandchildren, that will miss their husband, and dad, and grandpa so much. After the closing prayer I quickly excused myself as I was feeling a little emotional when out in the lobby I heard my name called again, "Joyce, Joyce!"
I stopped and turned around and there was a very dear friend from Atlanta that I hadn't seen since 1987. She was visiting her daughter that lives in my stake. I received all of her children's wedding announcements (she has 11 kids) over the years and every Christmas card, and so it felt like I'd just seen her, and she certainly didn't look 20 years older. Just as cute and darling as ever. We had a nice quick chat as I mentioned I was leaving to drive up to Sacramento tomorrow. She promised that the next time she's in town visiting we'll get together, along with her husband.
We hugged goodby. I walked to my car. I looked out over the lights of San Clemente and around at the Christmas lights on the hills around me and I knew--that not a hair on our head or a sparrow falls without our Heavenly Father's awareness. He is mindful of my friends in their grief. He is mindful of me in my sorrow. He is mindful of all of His children. He has a plan, a divine destiny for each one of us. Some of us finish our earthly journey sooner than others. I read the following quote this morning before I went to church. Little did I know a few hours later how much more it would mean to me tonight. From our past beloved prophet and LDS Church President, Spencer W. Kimball in Faith Precedes the Miracle:
I went to the San Clemente Stake Christmas Concert tonight looking for music to lift my spirit, particularly as the shock of the news was beginning to wear off and my emotions were coming forth in waves.
It was already crowded in the large hall, but as I looked for a seat for one, I heard a friendly voice, say, "Joyce, come sit by our family." I was so surprised but pleasantly so that someone had noticed and asked me to join them. And yet because they were even farther back from the front from where I started to sit down they said, "Hey, you'd probably get a much better seat up closer. There's always room for one." And so there was. I walked up towards the front and an usher seated me next to a darling woman who was very friendly as we soon discovered that I'd been close friends, in fact almost roommates, with her sister-in-law at BYU. It was fun to play quick catch up before the lights dimmed.
The music was beautiful, the voices talented, and the energy palpable from the program. But with the closing number from the childrens' choir, my heart felt heavy again as reality set in, and I thought of my friend and her girls and her grandchildren, that will miss their husband, and dad, and grandpa so much. After the closing prayer I quickly excused myself as I was feeling a little emotional when out in the lobby I heard my name called again, "Joyce, Joyce!"
I stopped and turned around and there was a very dear friend from Atlanta that I hadn't seen since 1987. She was visiting her daughter that lives in my stake. I received all of her children's wedding announcements (she has 11 kids) over the years and every Christmas card, and so it felt like I'd just seen her, and she certainly didn't look 20 years older. Just as cute and darling as ever. We had a nice quick chat as I mentioned I was leaving to drive up to Sacramento tomorrow. She promised that the next time she's in town visiting we'll get together, along with her husband.
We hugged goodby. I walked to my car. I looked out over the lights of San Clemente and around at the Christmas lights on the hills around me and I knew--that not a hair on our head or a sparrow falls without our Heavenly Father's awareness. He is mindful of my friends in their grief. He is mindful of me in my sorrow. He is mindful of all of His children. He has a plan, a divine destiny for each one of us. Some of us finish our earthly journey sooner than others. I read the following quote this morning before I went to church. Little did I know a few hours later how much more it would mean to me tonight. From our past beloved prophet and LDS Church President, Spencer W. Kimball in Faith Precedes the Miracle:
"I am positive in my mind that the Lord has planned our destiny. Sometime we'll understand fully, and when we see back from the vantage point of the future, we shall be satisfied with many of the happenings of this life that are so difficult for us to comprehend".
And all because our Savior, the little Lord Jesus, the babe in the manger, studied, grew up, walked the earth, served mankind, and sacrificed His life for us. And then He lives, He lives who once was dead, He lives our ever-living head!
And all because our Savior, the little Lord Jesus, the babe in the manger, studied, grew up, walked the earth, served mankind, and sacrificed His life for us. And then He lives, He lives who once was dead, He lives our ever-living head!
5 comments:
This is beautiful, Joyce. I love you and can't wait to see you!!
So beautiful!! I love how you paint pictures with words.
Thanks for posting this on your blog....thanks for letting me into your amazing world...Merry Christmas, friend
Beautiful thoughts at a very hard time. I've been thinking about you and my heart has been with Lorie.
Thank you friend. Hugs!
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