I remember meeting with the Bishop of my home ward just before I left on my mission. Bishop Harbertson was an amazing Bishop and my dad was in the bishopric with him. As we finished our discussion, he said very sincerely, "You have some amazing parents." I thought I knew exactly what he meant. After all, I had spent some 21 odd years with them (really- they were odd...) But each year as I get older I feel that my eyes are opened a little bit more in understanding exactly how amazing they are.
I'm not going to even attempt to persuade you that they are amazing by listing their accomplishments or their contributions because if you know them, you know what I mean. I have been extremely blessed to be raised by them. They have been supportive of everything I've done- from sports, to school, to work, to crazy ideas. Although I'm sure they have been praying for me my entire life, it wasn't until my mission that it really sunk in that my parents prayed for me. I was thinking today about the prayers they have probably said for me and for all of my siblings as I listened to the talk of the Illinois Peoria Mission President in our Stake Conference today.
President Erickson began by explaining that his father died when he was 13 and that he grew up under the watchful eye of a fabulously strong mother. His mother always prayed for him and told him that he would serve a mission. Young Lynn (President Erickson) fell away from the church during his teenage years and went to college to play basketball. His mother reminded him occasionally that "when he served a mission..." but he obviously knew that he would not serve a mission because he knew himself. Although he remained inactive, he prayed on his own. One time while at home from school he prayed and received a strong impression that he needed to serve a mission. In his mind he fought it, but decided to counsel with the Bishop. Over time he prepared himself for a mission without his mother's knowledge.
Then one day the Bishop called his mom to his office(this was all carefully scripted by he and the Bishop) and having been the Relief Society President for eight years she knew she was going to be released. Conveniently, Lynn was playing basketball with some young men in the church that afternoon and when his mother arrived the Bishop asked her if she would like to invite her son into their meeting. She was confused, but consented. The Bishop began by saying, "Sister Erickson, your son has a desire to serve a mission, and we want to know if you are able to support his decision." The woman fell to her knees there in the Bishop's office, put her hands over her face, and sobbed. The Bishop thought perhaps she would be overwhelmed financially by the prospect of supporting a mission so he said, "The ward is prepared to assist you-" But she interrupted and said, "Don't you dare think I would let you deprive me of the blessings of supporting my son on a mission. I will work five jobs if I have to!"
I sat in that meeting today touched by his message and overwhelmed by the love and prayers of my parents. As I look back on my life I often wonder why I've been so blessed in so many situations and I wonder if it is perhaps the sincere prayers of my dear parents that have sustained me. I am sure that countless petitions have been offered on my behalf, and I am so grateful for their continued faith in prayers. "Don't give up on your children," President Erickson counseled us today. "Continue to pray for them." 
4 comments:
That was probably one of the best entries I have read in a long time Aubrey! Thank you so much for sharing! Not only does that give me a little glimpse into my parents eyes....even though they are not active, I am sure they worry and pray for us continually. But, it also gives me a little glimpse into myself as I think about how much I love my children and want them to succeed!
No doubt your parents are incredibly fantastic...but, so are you! I see such greatness in the Newland family...it just amazes me! How I wish I could just see more of you to feel of it! :)
I think your parents are great and so are you! Those were some fun times together in the Canyon View ward with your dad in the Bishopric. Thank you for sharing this, I love how you write.
You really do have some great parents. Your post really made me think. I pray for my kids each night but it's always been very general. I think it stems from my kids being young... what specific requests do you make on behalf of your 1 year old? But this got me thinking about all the little things that my boys need and that I could pray for. I feel like I've really been missing out with my overly general prayers on their behalf. I need to be a better mom... follow your parents' examples and pray on a more personal level for them. Even if my only prayer for them at this time is... please may he get over his daiper rash... I guess that's important, too, right? I love your posts, Aubrey!
Aubrey, THANK YOU!!! I constantly wonder about the problems, challenges, and joys that we will face as parents. There's no way to know what's going to come and especially how to handle those things in the best way. Prayer is the answer! Thanks for the reminder. It's interesting how the older we get the better our parents are. I now can see how much love my parents have for ALL of us kids. It's amazing. Thanks for your entry!
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