This month our family has gone through some real tradgedies. First Stan was having mini strokes, but is now ok. Stephanie had surgery and is doing well. Our grandson David was in a serious car accident and is still in the hospital in serious condition. Our little great newphew Parker who is seven months old contacted bacterial meningitis. They have determined that Parker is completely deaf in both ears. They still don't know the extent of permanent damage in either David or Parker.

I was reading an article in the conference reports and ran accross this talk by Elder Neil L. Andersen. In the talk he told a story that I thought fit right in with what we are all going through right now.

He says challenges, difficulties, questions doubts--these are part of our mortality. But we are not alone. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have enormous spiritual reservoirs of light and truth availble to us. Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. In our days of difficulty, we choose the road of faith. Jesus said, "Be not afraid, only believe."

Hadley Peay is now seven years old. Hadley was born with a very serious hearing impairment requiring extensive surgery to bring even limited hearing. Her parents followed the tireless training to help her learn to speak. Hadley and her family have cheerfully adapted to the challenge of her deafness.

Once, when Hadley was four, she was standing in the checkout line at the grocery store with her mother. She looked behind her and saw a boy sitting in a wheelchair. She noticed that the boy did not have legs.
Although Hadley had learned to speak she had difficulty controlling the volume of her voice. In her louder voice, she asked her mother why the little boy did not have legs.

Her mother quietly and simply explained to Hadley that "Heavenly Father makes all of His children different." "OK," Hadley replied.

Then unexpectedly Hadley turned to the litttle boy and said, "Did you know that when Heavenly Father made me, my ears did not work? That makes me special. He made you with no legs, and that makes you special. When Jesus comes again, I will be able to hear and you will get your legs, Jesus will make everything all right."

"Except ye...become as little chidlren ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus is the Christ. He is resurrected. He is our Savior and Redeemer. All will be made well when He comes again.
I am so thankful for this promise. I hope this little simple story renews hope for all of us.