A quick thought I wanted to share this morning. Some of you know that my dear Grandmother, Thelma Curtis, passed away in the early morning of May 25th. She is am amazing woman who blessed my life with an unconditional love and kindness that only a grandmother can. Some may also know thatMariAnne and I are expecting our 5th child in September - a little girl. There is a lot of these "circle of life" moments going on in the greater Youngquist family tree. This isn't to mention various health scares and triumphs.
I am humbled and grateful for life in its many forms and the joy and sadness that we enjoy. It is through these experiences that our lives can become rich and full. It is in the Holy Temple(s) and the home that these familial relationships are cultivated into eternal bonds and can endure into the eternities.
As it is sad to have Grandma gone - we know that this is not her end. We will see her again, for which I am eternally grateful.
CS Lewis said it best in The Last Battle;
“And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
“And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
Here is the final aha moment/thought -
If I Could
In Between Dreams Album, Jack Johnson
A brand new baby was born yesterday
Just in time
Papa cried, baby cried
Said "Your tears are like mine"
I heard some words
From a friend on the phone
That didn't sound so good
The doctor gave him two weeks to live
I'd give him more if I could
You know that I would now
If only I could
You know that I would now
If only I could
Down the middle drops one more
Grain of sand
They say that
New life makes losing life easier to understand
Words are kind
They helped ease the mind
I'll miss my old friend
And though you gotta go
We'll keep a piece of your soul
One goes out
One comes in
You know that I would now
If only I could
You know that I would now
If only I could
I love your writing Kevin, if you wrote a book, I would eagerly read it cover to cover. I have had similar thoughts lately, made possible by knowledge of the great plan of salvation, but these personal life experiences sure make it real and raw and put flesh to its bones. I love you and am glad your part of my life and eventual eternal experience :)
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