My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.”
~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Dear Friend,
You came to my first CAT scan and sat waiting in the bad news room with me. A week later you took me to the emergency room and called my parents. You fielded phone calls and cancelled my plans for me. You came to the hospital and then you came to Idaho. When I found myself suddenly cut off from my life you called me every day to keep me in the loop and remind me that at least one part of my life was still waiting for me. You came to visit me. You were scared for me and you were strong for me. You fielded all the questions and kept everyone updated so that I didn't have to. You knew all the nothingness was driving me crazy so you sent me a textbook-Which was unspeakably awesome. When I realized that I had to get back to my life or go crazy it was you that made that possible. You played hooky from work in order to welcome me home. You cooked for me and cleaned for me and drove me around and scraped my car windows for me. You opened countless doors for me. You joked with me and got indignant for me. You walked with me. You shaved my head and encouraged me in my journey from hats to scarves to rocking the bald. Then taught me how to style my short hair. You dealt with my headaches and weakness and pain and maybe the most difficult thing you did (in your opinion) was hand me scissors that one time I was bandaging my wound. You made me laugh and held me while I cried and then made me laugh again. You suffered all of my set-backs with me and you just kept going. And then I got better and we celebrated all of my milestones together.
And then my cancer came back. And you did it all again, only more so. More emergency rooms and surgeries and listening and meals. You were more aware, and available, and encouraging, and long-suffering, and compassionate, and validating, and patient, and funny, and kind, and loving.You were there for it all. And maybe all of this makes it sound like you were perfect in your service and I was perfect in my trial but we both know that we definitely were not. And I think that is what makes it all so meaningful, and valuable, and miraculous. Because it was so incredibly hard, and you did it anyway.
I will never forget,
Sam
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