Thanks, Brian

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Thanks, Brian

Last night Andrew was acting like a kid on Christmas Eve.

He was so excited because the next day was bringing him a visit from his best friend.

A friend who decided to move off to Georgia which means visits are few and far between.

It made him feel old to realize that he and Brian have been friends for 20 years!

Andrew lived down the street from me.

Brian lived directly across the street.

They weren't my age and I payed very little attention to them.

All of those years that I was oblivious to the two of them, they were friends.

They spent those years growing up in each others homes.

I've heard stories about sleepovers with nachos and M&M's.

Andrew and I started dating after we were all home from missions.

Andrew had a car and Brian and I took advantage of it.

The three of us rode to school together regularly.

One day Andrew wasn't there and it was just Brian and me.

Brian used that as an opportunity to help out (spy for) his friend.

"So, what's going on between you and Andy?" he slyly asked.

"Is it serious?"

At that moment, I had been facing some real hesitations about my developing relationship with Andrew.

We had just gone out on a large group date with a bunch of his friends.

There were girls as young as 18 in that group.

I was 22.

At that age, four years felt REALLY different.

I started to question whether or not I could see a future with this "younger" guy.

I started to waffle a bit at Brian's question.

"I don't know, I mean, we're talking about Andy Shadel."

(I almost spat the name out.)

As I always tell people - Andy Shadel wasn't just the boy down the street.

He was the boy down the street's LITTLE brother!

My condescending response fired Brian up a little.

He was nice, but he immediately put me in my place by asking what in the world I meant.

I can't remember his exact words, but I remember his tone.

And he basically told me that Andy Shadel is a great catch and I would be a fool to let him go.

Brian's conviction and allegiance to Andrew really struck me.

My trivial concerns about age melted away.

That was a real turning point in our relationship.

It isn't something I think about often.

It's really more of an afterthought.

But every once in a while I pause.

And I wonder if Andrew and I would have gotten married if it weren't for Brian.

After Brian left today I mentioned that story to Andy - I had never told him about that experience.

Andrew's response was immediate as he softly said, "I'll have to thank Brian for that."

Which is exactly why I know I should thank Brian too.

No comments:

Post a Comment

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.