The past few months, four great men have passed from this life. Brad, Tiffani's beloved father passed away December 11, Howard, a dear friend passed on January 3, on February 18 our brother-in-law Tim Kay passed away, and on February 22 another dear friend Rulon passed.
Each of their circumstances were all very different.
Brad tested positive for COVID, then came the pneumonia. Tim and I had Cash, Colby, Grey, and Grahm for a Christmas party and sleepover the day Brad passed. We knew Brad was placed on a ventilator but we had every hope that he would recover. We had a fun day, watched a movie, and the boys were all safe and cozy in our basement. They were sleeping peacefully, and as looked over at them, I felt such gratitude for each one of them. I fell asleep and woke up a little later. I wondered what time it was so I checked my phone, and saw a text from Mark. He said that Brad had passed earlier that day. He waited to tell us so it wouldn't spoil our day with the boys. I again looked over at Cash, Colby, Grey, Grahm who had lost their Papa, and was heartbroken that they would soon learn he was gone. I went to tell Tim who was sleeping in another room. We sat on the edge of the bed and wept. It was devastating news and impossible to believe. We prayed for Tiffani and her family. I didn't really sleep the remainder of that night. Tiffani was daddy's girl. I remember at gatherings we have had through the years, Brad was like a magnet to Tiff. She would want to be right beside him, and they would talk and laugh.
Holley's husband Tim passed away unexpectedly last Friday. Holley and Becca found him on the stairs in the garage, he was gone. We all loved Tim, he was a hard worker, and as the oldest in his family, lovingly watched over his brothers and sisters. He married Holley and became a father to her three young children. He was thrilled to have two more children with Holley. Tim had a stroke in 2008, he struggled after that but tried his best to keep going. As I listened to the wonderful tributes that his children gave yesterday at the funeral service, I was touched by the love and devotion he had for his family. I was grateful that my husband Tim and I could sit together with our sons at the service. I looked over at Chris and Mark and felt so thankful for them. They are ours forever. I wish I had a picture because they both looked so handsome.
On February 22, Rulon, our dear friend passed. For almost ten years he has struggle with many health problems. About three years ago he suffered a stroke, and was paralyzed on the left side. Rulon, who was on the go and working all the time, found himself needing help to do everything. He really tried to gain back what was lost through difficult therapy, but he never regained the use of his left side. All the while his wife Billie was his main caregiver. She lovely cared for him, and rarely complained, even though it was so exhausting. I always told her that her devotion was inspiring to me.
I go through this same scenario almost every time someone close to me dies. I ask myself, "What have I learned from the death of a loved one or friend."
I remember when my Dad passed, I knew nothing would ever be the same. But I also wanted to make the most of each day. I felt how fragile life is, and how finite time is. Of course I do try for awhile to make the most of each day, and then it fades, and is renewed again when someone else passes.
This week I have thought about how important is it to not put things off. I have heard this quote so many time, "If not now, when? I'll travel when... I'll get healthy when... I'll write my story when... I'll be happy when... As Christopher always tell me, "All we have is now."
I know how precious life is and we must try to make the most of it.
This is will always be one of my favorite talks, I still get emotional whenever I read it. It gives me hope.
We know what the Resurrection is—the reuniting of the spirit and body in its perfect form.
President Joseph F. Smith said “that those from whom we have to part here, we will meet again and see as they are. We will meet the same identical being that we associated with here in the flesh.”
President Spencer W. Kimball amplified this when he said, “I am sure that if we can imagine ourselves at our very best, physically, mentally, spiritually, that is the way we will come back.”
When we are resurrected, “this mortal body is raised to an immortal body. … [We] can die no more.”
Can you imagine that? Life at our prime? Never sick, never in pain, never burdened by the ills that so often beset us in mortality?
The Resurrection is at the core of our beliefs as Christians. Without it, our faith is meaningless. The Apostle Paul said, “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and [our] faith is also vain.”
Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.
But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.
No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come."
October 2006
