Today we buried my grandmother. It was sweet. She was 89 and lived a long wonderful life. She has wanted to go for oh so long. Her husband died 20 years ago. It was sad, but happy. Last week on my trek down there, it hit me I had never talked to her at all about dealing with addiction. I realized then that on the other side she would know and would be a great support for me in healing.
As soon as it became apparent that I wasnt going to make it my sister called and held the phone to my Grandma's ear and I got to say good-bye. I asked her to watch over me and to help me. I know she will.
I know some who believe that once we get over to the other side we will be so busy preparing for the second coming of our Savior that we wont be paying attention to what goes on down here, especially not enough to come visit. (now they may be more thinking along the "ghost story lines... I have never clarified with them)
My firm belief is that our ancestors are there on the other side and they are still with us when we need it. I have seen and felt my ancestors at times.
My Grandmother dealt with an addicted loved one. She knows what we go through. I learned today something that I had heard briefly a long time ago, learned in more depth that she had more of the same struggles that I have had. I fully believe as is talked about in the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants that we are to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. As part of this I know that they are there to help us. lift us when we s tumble. and love us through it. ESPECIALLY if it is something that they have experienced. How else are we supposed to turn our hearts to each other if we are not helping one another?
I am grateful for my grandparents, all of them. for the love and strength they have given me.
I love this quote from Joseph F. Smith: “I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. … We are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors … who have preceded us into the spirit world. We can not forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break. … If this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal weaknesses, … how much more certain it is … to believe that those who have been faithful, who have gone beyond … can see us better than we can see them; that they know us better than we know them. … We live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us; … their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves.”
ReplyDelete