When Love is Love

J'aime le analogie de ma vie avec l'envers d'une tapisserie. Elle semble n'être rien d'autre qu'un fouillis de fils emmêlés, effilochés, parfois noués et apparemment aléatoires. Mais lorsque vous retournez la tapisserie, vous pouvez voir l'art, les couleurs riches, la texture et les motifs qui la composent.  Mon Père céleste n’a rien tissé dans ma vie qui ait été gaspillé : pas un seul fil d’expérience ni une seule personne que j’ai rencontrée.   Chaque personne que j’ai rencontrée, chaque expérience que j’ai vécue et chaque porte que j’ai franchie ont été le résultat d’un Père aimant tissant des expériences et des personnes dans ma vie. 

Monday, June 5, 1961--the hardest day of my life. I did not heed Annie's advice to not come down to the Hotel Utah, from where she was leaving today. I needed to see her one more time, but she was right. There were so many people there, family, almost the entire South High Pep Club, other exchange students, friends, and she didn't really have time for me. She understood what it would do to me, and she was right. I did get a chance to give her the bracelet I had bought for her, and hug her, but that was it. When the bus left, I was totally lost and so sad, and felt all alone--Annie Martin was gone, and I had no idea if I would ever see her again. Annie had written in my yearbook: "For life is but a sleep, a walking shadow.... Yes, this is true. After life is death. After land is the ocean. For me, the ocean means death (not because I don't know how to swim) but because the ocean is going to take me away from America, from my friends, from my American parents, and from y...

Merry Christmas!  Christmas has always been special to me. I loved Christmas when I was young, and it was the same when you were all young. It has always been special and your excitement made it even more so. I miss Christmas with you in the US, but it is special here as well, but not the same without you. We don't have much to buy you presents, and haven't had for some time. But I can still do the greatest good for each of you. What is the greatest good a father can do for his children and they for theirs?  This year I want to express my love for each of you by doing the greatest good I can do for you, something that took a long time for me to learn and experience. What is this greatest good? When I think of the greatest good, I think of what the Lord revealed to Joseph: "...proclaim His gospel.... And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord." Christ stands between you and justice...

Mom’s Funeral Talk--April 6, 2007 I heard this statement on a TV show Monday night: “You are just an ordinary family who was put under a microscope. Nobody can hold up to that close of a look.” When I heard that, I thought of Mom, and said to myself: “Except my mother. She could.”   And yet, no one that I’ve known was more aware of her weaknesses and imperfections. She was always my example of humility. And the greatest blessing a boy like me could have was having a Mother like her. Her gift to me was more than bringing me into this life, nurturing, and raising me. Her gift to me was her humility and patience. She was a window to my soul, and through her, I learned to see myself: how can someone so gentle and patient have a son so selfish and impatient? The Lord knew that only my Mother could have a son like me.   I have many found memories of Mom. But some you may not have have heard occurred during the 10 days we spent together in France. She was 83 years old, an...