Today we are talking about families. About three 1/2 years ago family life was great. It was just me and my brothers and we got along and had a lot of fun together. Then one day that all changed. We were doing some back-to-school shopping when my mom got a message on her phone that made her drop all the clothes and tell us to get in the car, “Now!”
On the way to the car she told us Joie was in an accident and got hurt and we had to go to the hospital to be with her. She was trying to call my uncle to find out more. We got in the car and couldn’t hear what she was saying. Then she got in the car and said, “We have to go now.”
She started driving, then pulled into another parking spot and started to cry. She knew she had to tell us what happened. She was crying and said that Joie’s mom and dad and sister died in the car accident. I cried all the way to the hospital. In the hospital some of the nurses helped me and my brothers find something to do while my mom went to be with Joie. I kept asking my mom where Joie would go.
After a few days all of the grandparents decided that Joie could come live with us. At first I was excited. I’d have my fun cousin to be my sister! But after a few days the fun wore off. I hated sharing a room. My room was a mess. My parents were paying a lot of attention to Joie, and a lot of people came to visit Joie and brought her presents, but there were no presents for me. Then my brothers started to get mad at me because I was playing with Joie instead of them. No one was happy. Everyone was sad, and it seemed like nothing would ever be the same again. All I wanted was for things to go back to the way they used to be.
This is when I started to decide things couldn’t be this way forever. I’m not sure when things started to change, but a little at a time I figured out that if fI could be considerate and support other family members, I felt happier inside. My dad gave me a blessing and said Heavenly Father wanted me to know that my aunt and uncle and cousin who died were thankful to me for treating Joie with kindness. I felt peace, and even though it was hard, I tried to be a peacemaker. Here are some other things that have helped me:
1. Families are the most sacred unit of the church.
2. Being willing to help made me feel good and made things feel different in our home.
3. We need to go forward with faith through trials.
4. The Lord will help us through our trials. He shows us the way.
5. The Lord is the source of all wisdom and we all need His help.
6. Scriptures are a powerful source of strength and they helped strengthen our family.
This time when we’ve added someone new to our family again, the adjustments are still kind of hard, but not as much. When it feels like things aren’t fair and things will never be the same again, I try to remember the things I learned before and when I go to Heavenly Father He helps me feel peace and helps me know what to do.
I know that families are part of God’s plan for our happiness. Sometimes I still wish for no trials and no changes, but I’m thankful that I know how to get through hard things and I know I that I can be true to the Lord and to his church under all circumstances.
(Link to the story of our family speaking in church.)
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