Some of you might remember this story from Pres. Monson's talk at the Relief Society meeting a few weeks ago. It touched me to the core.
A woman by the name of Mary Bartels had a home directly across the street from the entrance to a hospital clinic. Her family lived on the main floor and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One evening a badly disfigured man came to her door looking for a place to stay the night. He'd been searching for a room since early that day but surmised to Mary that he guessed it was because of his face that he'd had no success. Mary found the man a place to sleep-even though all her rooms were filled. During the ensuing years a friendship developed as the man continued to go for treatments and stayed in Mary's home.
(Now I will quote from Pres. Monson's talk.)
"After the man passed away, Mary was visiting with a friend who had a greenhouse. As she looked at her friend’s flowers, she noticed a beautiful golden chrysanthemum but was puzzled that it was growing in a dented, old, rusty bucket. Her friend explained, 'I ran short of pots, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, until I can put it out in the garden.'
"Mary smiled as she imagined just such a scene in heaven. 'Here’s an especially beautiful one,' God might have said when He came to the soul of the little old man. 'He won’t mind starting in this small, misshapen body.' But that was long ago, and in God’s garden how tall this lovely soul must stand!"
My thoughts were immediately turned to Hunter. He is an especially beautiful soul that is starting out in a handicapped body. I know that one day in our Heavenly Father's garden he will stand tall and everyone will see him as he really is.
A woman by the name of Mary Bartels had a home directly across the street from the entrance to a hospital clinic. Her family lived on the main floor and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One evening a badly disfigured man came to her door looking for a place to stay the night. He'd been searching for a room since early that day but surmised to Mary that he guessed it was because of his face that he'd had no success. Mary found the man a place to sleep-even though all her rooms were filled. During the ensuing years a friendship developed as the man continued to go for treatments and stayed in Mary's home.
(Now I will quote from Pres. Monson's talk.)
"After the man passed away, Mary was visiting with a friend who had a greenhouse. As she looked at her friend’s flowers, she noticed a beautiful golden chrysanthemum but was puzzled that it was growing in a dented, old, rusty bucket. Her friend explained, 'I ran short of pots, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, until I can put it out in the garden.'
"Mary smiled as she imagined just such a scene in heaven. 'Here’s an especially beautiful one,' God might have said when He came to the soul of the little old man. 'He won’t mind starting in this small, misshapen body.' But that was long ago, and in God’s garden how tall this lovely soul must stand!"
My thoughts were immediately turned to Hunter. He is an especially beautiful soul that is starting out in a handicapped body. I know that one day in our Heavenly Father's garden he will stand tall and everyone will see him as he really is.
Oh I thought the same thing when I heard that talk. So beautiful. Love you Em! xo
ReplyDeleteI thought of all our special children, too. Amen!
ReplyDeleteLove, Bree