Sad News

Monday, October 13, 2008

Sad News

I had already uploaded these pictures and just hadn't finalized the post, when we discovered that Jitters, the rabbit has died.

She has been a good pet. Although she belonged to my brother David, she lived at my parents house and my mom adores her.

She was pretty and soft and was learning to be a great friend to the kids. They loved watching her hop around and she would often approach them and let them pet her.

I haven't told Ammon yet, and I am worried about his reaction. The other bunny that lived here died a month ago and Ammon had a very personally anguished response to it.

Pain and grief are such raw emotions. The only solace I can find for such intense and difficult feelings is the strength of the Lord.

I am amazed with what goes on in our little world every day - the burdens that people are called on to bare. The things that give us each a choice to either draw closer to God or turn further away from him. Yesterday I also found out that a woman from my ward in West Jordan passed away suddenly of a heart attack. I hurt for her family and the unexpected loss they now face. When I was in the ward, she taught our Relief Society lesson once a month. It is so odd to me to realize how suddenly and drastically life can change.

My cousin introduced me to a blog that is written by a mother of 4 young daughters. The baby of the group, born just a week before Peter, died last summer. I am strengthened by her journey through the pain and loss as she demonstrates her faith in and love for our Savior. I knew a woman like that in Yuma - she had lost her 18 year old son to a deadly car accident. He was her only child and the loss was great. I met her almost a year later and she was still working through the tragedy of it all. But my introduction to her was observing her at church as, from the podium she shared her testimony of Jesus Christ. Never had I heard a more eloquent or faith-filled testimony than hers.

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. For an understanding of what our purpose is here in the world in the midst of all of these difficult and heartwrenching experiences. I know the God loves us and is aware of each one of us and every little detail of our lives. He knows the pains in our hearts and is available to help us grow into them. He can teach us and we can find solace in Him.

3 comments:

MichelleOctober 14, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Oh, sorry to hear about Jitters. And yes, I love Stephanie Waite's blog. She is such an inspiration.
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TiffanyOctober 14, 2008 at 4:22 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jenny, they were uplifting. I hope things go well with telling Ammon.
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d.r. gibOctober 14, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Very nice thoughts. They had announced Lisa's death right before Darin and I spoke in church on Sunday. It was a hard day for the whole ward.
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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.