Day 4- In Retrospect: Simple Things Tend to Mean the Most

I like looking back over my life. Looking back over events and dates and times. Looking at how different I am now than I was then.

The past few days have been a simple reminder to me of where I've been, where I'm at, and where I'm going.

After my friend M and I got home this afternoon, my mom told me to spill. And spill I did. Most fine details were covered. All big events were shared. I love talking to my mom and my sisters. They're like my best friends, or something. It must come with the "family" package....

And then, after sharing most everything, Mom asked me what my favorite part of the weekend was.

I paused for a moment, thinking.

I could have easily said zip lining or the dance. Those were the most obvious.

Or maybe the fact that I actually got plenty of attention from a few guys- something that rarely occurs.

Or, perhaps, getting reacquainted with one of my friends from the past.

But instead, I answered with something small and kind and loving that I witnessed throughout the weekend.

There were two brothers at the conference. I only saw them, really, from a distance. One, who we'll call Jon, looked like he had some physical disabilities and seemed very sweet and gentle. The other one, who we'll call Rob, was cute and friendly and, the majority of the time, hung out with a friend of mine.

For most of the weekend, Jon and Rob did their own thing. Of course they did things together, but they did things separately too.

At one point in the conference, Jon wanted to sit in a seat that happened to be right beside me. To sit there, he had to step over the bench. Rob helped him as he did so. The way he did it was so gentle and compassionate, so kind and caring.

From that point on I observed these two brothers. They seemed really close. If Rob decided to pick up a broom and sweep, then Jon was behind him with a dust pan. If Rob was getting food for them, then Jon was there with the utensils for them to use.

There were other things, too, that I noticed. Like when Jon was playing a game, and Rob frequently checked on him.

It was so different from anything that I had ever seen. So often in today's world I see the drop and run act. I see haste and frustration. I see selfishness and pride. It was so refreshing to see something so extraordinary.

Christlike love.

Watching them made me want to be a better person, a better sister, a better daughter. It made me want to serve. It reminded me of the promise that I made to myself on my mission- to love all like Christ loves.

Whilst in Nauvoo, I met a man who was in his 60's. He was very sweet, and very mentally handicapped. He came to several of our concerts with his caretakers. Every time we finished a song, he clapped loudly. Every time we bore our testimony, he vocally said "I AGREE!"

I had the chance to talk to this sweet man after a performance later in the day. In talking with him, I fell in love with his fun personality. I had a very, very strong sense that Heavenly Father loved this son immensely.

Shortly after I finished talking with him, I spoke with his caretakers. They said that they had been blessed to spend the last 40 years with this man, after an auto accident had taken away his ability to be independent. They told us that music always put him in a great mood, and explained to us how much he loved it. They bore a loving testimony to me, a missionary, of his divine worth. It added to my own testimony.

About two weeks later we got word that this beautiful spirit son of God had left the world to return to his heavenly home. Even now my heart is touched by the example he was to me of the love that our Heavenly Father has for his children.

I love this song- this rendition is especially touching.

"Know my child. My kindness shall not depart from thee."