Tender Mercies

12-26-10
 So today at Church the theme was "Christ's tender mercies".  The first speaker was a return missionary from Tuscon Arizona.  He had been home about 7 months.  He spoke of his mission and the experiences he had while serving, and so of course, I began thinking about Jed.  He talked of Christ's tender mercies and how he was led to people, how he gained his own personal testimony and how the conversion of people touched his heart.  The theme carried on through Relief Society and the story of a sick boy was told from a talk that President Monson gave during last springs conference session- titled "He is Risen".  I have to share!

Two weeks ago I received a touching letter from a father of seven who wrote about his family and, in particular, his son Jason, who had become ill when 11 years of age. Over the next few years, Jason’s illness recurred several times. This father told of Jason’s positive attitude and sunny disposition, despite his health challenges. Jason received the Aaronic Priesthood at age 12 and “always willingly magnified his responsibilities with excellence, whether he felt well or not.” He received his Eagle Scout Award when he was 14 years old.
Last summer, not long after Jason’s 15th birthday, he was once again admitted to the hospital. On one of his visits to see Jason, his father found him with his eyes closed. Not knowing whether Jason was asleep or awake, he began talking softly to him. “Jason,” he said, “I know you have been through a lot in your short life and that your current condition is difficult. Even though you have a giant battle ahead, I don’t ever want you to lose your faith in Jesus Christ.” He said he was startled as Jason immediately opened his eyes and said, “Never!” in a clear, resolute voice. Jason then closed his eyes and said no more.
His father wrote: “In this simple declaration, Jason expressed one of the most powerful, pure testimonies of Jesus Christ that I have ever heard. … As his declaration of ‘Never!’ became imprinted on my soul that day, my heart filled with joy that my Heavenly Father had blessed me to be the father of such a tremendous and noble boy. … [It] was the last time I heard him declare his testimony of Christ.”
Although his family was expecting this to be just another routine hospitalization, Jason passed away less than two weeks later. An older brother and sister were serving missions at the time. Another brother, Kyle, had just received his mission call. In fact, the call had come earlier than expected, and on August 5, just a week before Jason’s passing, the family gathered in his hospital room so that Kyle’s mission call could be opened there and shared with the entire family.
In his letter to me, this father included a photograph of Jason in his hospital bed, with his big brother Kyle standing beside the bed, holding his mission call. This caption was written beneath the photograph: “Called to serve their missions together—on both sides of the veil.”

During the lesson in Relief Society, we were asked if anyone had anything to share.  Well I don't share very often but when Jed was getting his papers handled for his mission and it seemed like we were hitting one wall after another and we had been told that Jed could not serve a mission if he was taking a certain type of medicine...Jed said something remarkable that I have pondered about so many times.  He said, "I am afraid they won't let me go on a mission".  So instead of being afraid of going like I'm sure I would be...he was more afraid of not being able to serve.  This was Jed's testimony of Christ.  Just like the dying boy said "Never"....Jed was more afraid of not serving.  The amazing thing is that Jed has had so many trials of anxiety and depression that if anyone should be afraid of leaving his home for 2 years, I would think it would be Jed.  

Thank you Jed for being my teacher.  For being an example of Christ.  For serving with a full willingness of heart and spirit.  Thank you for conquering your fears and placing your trust in the Lord.  And above all else....Thank you for being my son.  I will forever be eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for trusting me enough to be your Mother.