Wednesday, January 14, 2009

My Brother Nate...I love you




Of course I have a few dozen back posts a waiting as I have been gone from my home for 3 weeks and gone from blogging for even longer... and I know you must all be desperate to see our hundreds of photos taken over the holidays-wink wink, but...







I have to start with NATE. We have been blessed to have my little brother, Nathan, live with us for the past few months. He is a delight. An optimistic, loyal, helpful, hard working, hilarious, talented, passionate, clever, handsomely fellow whom my daughters adore and I cherish. He'll be leaving our home in just over a week to pursue another path. I don't think he (or we) have any idea how greatly he will be missed.




I hope I don't embarrass him with my honesty, but I've learned a lot from Nate these past few months. I've learned and thought a lot about how differently we all make choices, how specifically we are influenced and challenged, and how personally we are encircled in the arms of Mercy. I've appreciated more the virtue of Hope and the ability to feel real Christ-like love. You See, Nate isn't your conventional LDS youth. Some of his choices have been different from gospel standards. His path has lead him down some rough roads with unique challenges and trials. I'm not certain all that he has learned or decided for himself, but I know he has come to know the reality of the grip of the adversary and the sweet refuge of the Master. Watching, listening to, and praying for Nate has made me think more about who I am and how seriously I am seeking to serve and love others as our precious Savior does.

I was extremely inspired by the spirit and words of Elder Holland (one of my most cherished Apostle) in this weeks BYU devotional. He encouraged us to "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32). 'He referenced the biblical story from Genesis, where Lot and his family fled at daybreak from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's wife ignored God's command to "look not behind thee" and — upon looking back — turned into a pillar of salt'(Deseret News).

Elder Holland Said,
"It isn't just that she looked back — she looked back longingly,...In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. That, apparently, was at least part of her sin...."

"We remember that faith is always pointed toward the future — faith always has to do with blessing and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives. So a more theological way to talk about Lot's wife is to say she did not have faith. She doubted the Lord's ability to give her something better than she had. Apparently she thought — fatally as it turned out — that nothing that lay ahead could possibly be as good as those moments she was leaving behind."

" Let people repent. Let people grow. Believe that people can change — and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is it hope? Yes! Is it charity? Yes! Above all it is charity, the pure love of Christ..."

"Dismiss the destructive and keep dismissing it, until the beauty of the atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future, and the bright future of your family and your friends and your neighbors..."

" God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as he does about where you are, and with his help, where you are willing to go."
(*For those of you who get BYU Television it will be rebroadcast on Sunday January 25th at 8:00am, 4:00pm, and 10:00pm*)

How grateful I am to be allowed to change my way, improve my vision, look to the future with faith- and move forward! Thanks be to heaven for the plan of Happiness, for the Plan of Growth and Change! For the gift of living in families. I am honored to be a sister to Nate. To have his friendship and confidence. To have been allowed to be part of his journey. To know him how he is and how he can become. To be able to encourage each other in our quest for joy- stepping back at times- allowing agency, that we might claim joy for ourselves through Christ.

I love you Nate, forever. Press on dear brother.

Sara

10 comments:

Brianne & Jarod said...

I have been wondering when we would hear from you. As always your posts are so thoughtful, wonderfully uplifting, inspiring, and just GREAT! How easy it would be for those who have gone astray to return if they had the simiple knowledge and faith you have described...and if they were received with open and loving arms by those around them! YOU are just AWESOME! I really need to take a trip to come and visit you!!!

Sally F said...

Nate is seriously one of my favorite people. It has been so fun getting to know him! Definitely the best person to watch American Idol or anything else with. So passionate! And so kind to the girls and Tyler. Nate, you are a great guy and we'll really miss you.

Jared and Delia said...

You are an inspiration. I just read Adelaide's birthday post too and it was so sweet it made me cry!

You are such a wonderful mother.

I like the princess for a day idea. Girls are so FUN!

Amanda said...

I love this post. It is so hard to watch those you care for make choices so different from your own. I love the perspective you added on this one. How true that no matter who we are, no matter what our mistakes have been, if we look back and return to those things--that's when our progression stops. Thank you!!

Marlies said...

I am always amazed that you can bless the lives of others with your words the way you do. You even know just what words to quote from the prophets. I wish I could have spent more time with you in Corvallis. I know I would have learned so much...at least I do now everytime I read a post by you! Thanks

rachel said...

He's lucky to have a sister like you who loves him so much.

(he's a hottie, geez!!)

Lakes are Great said...

you're just so great! love you.

JAMIE said...

I love that you are posting again. I am not sure if Nate will ever get the chance to read this, but I hope he knows how much I love him and am crying for him. we miss him dearly and are also grateful for the time he was able to spend with you. I love you sara

~Sherry (Bear) and Stephen (Wolf) said...

you are an inspiration! You love everyone, think the best of everyone, and have the best outlook on life. I want to be more like you, you are seriously so sweet!
We miss you!

Kyle and Jamie said...

Hey girl!! You seriously are the cutest/nicest/most spiritual person ever! I haven't seen you forever. I miss you!! Your little family is so cute!