The Payoff

A week or so ago, we received a box of things that Cameron no longer needed while out on his mission in Florida.  Some things included an extra T-shirt or two for his P-day.  He had taken some along, but people have sent him T-shirts and so forth, which he has liked better and sent home some he had originally taken with him.  He also included a few token souvenirs from some people he had come in contact with and a completely filled journal, sealed up and in need of saving for his stories when he comes home.

It was very tempting to look at the journal, but since he specifically asked that we don't open it until he came home, we have obliged.

A couple of other things that were included in the box were two letters, one for the bishop and one for the stake president, who happens to reside in our ward. Today we gave them their letters and they both put them in their suit pockets.  To be read later, we assumed.

It was high council Sunday and the subject was on love, most directly, our Savior's love.  The speakers were good.  And it was a nice reminder of love in general.  As the high councilman concluded his talk, he closed a minute or two early and said that the Stake President had a few remarks he wanted to close with. He is an outgoing president due to the fact that he and his wife are now called as mission presidents in the state of Washington and so they will begin their three year mission calling in July. We know a new mission president is forthcoming so I thought perhaps he was going to get in a few more words of wisdom for us while he had the chance.  He is a very wonderful teacher and I thoroughly enjoy listening to him speak.  So I was happy to hear him come to the podium.

Today he said he had some words he wanted to share from a letter he received from a missionary, Elder Cameron Cox, and felt impressed to share. Because I knew this was a letter he just received only 10 minutes or so before Sacrament meeting, I was curious at the timing and excited that Cameron had written words wise enough to be shared by our beloved Stake president.  And so he read a couple of paragraphs Cameron had written about his understanding of the Savior, the Atonement and the love the Savior has for us.  He shared how sad he felt when those he taught did not know of that love and how grateful he was to know it and to have the opportunity to share it. Even in times when he was scared and afraid he would be unable to do it, he has found the courage and ability because he knows how much the Savior loves him!

I felt so loved today, from our Heavenly Father, for his tender mercy that we received as parents as we heard those words, sent in a letter not to us, but to our Stake president, but which we were also able to hear and enjoy and be blessed by. I too, am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and for a Savior who showed the greatest love to each and every one of us personally and who knows our struggles, trials and pain and loves us all the more.