I can't get her off my mind...

Last Sunday I taught the 14-15 year old girls. The lesson was on "Preparing for Change." All about how the one thing we can count on in life is change. It's going to happen whether we like it or not. Even the hard changes can have blessings, and we can grow sometimes tremendously from them.


The lesson included this true story about a woman who suddenly loses her husband to death after 20 years of marriage. Since my own story was so similar I decided just to tell my story instead.


Afterwards, I asked the girls if they had anything they would like to share about difficult change. One beautiful girl with a very cute name (that I won't say here), who was just visiting and I had never met before... raised her hand. She was so serene and quiet, and had listened intently to my lesson, only talking when I had earlier asked her name. She was sitting so straight and tall, with her dark long hair pulled back into a pony.


She had a very soft spoken voice, and began her story like this:
"My parents got a divorce before I was even born." Then she calmly put her arm out in a stopping motion and said, "That isn't the hard part." Then she continued, "I was the baby of the family. My Daddy's little girl. Then he remarried, and he and his new wife had twin baby girls. It was very hard because I didn't feel as important to my father any longer. He was busy with the babies and his new wife and I felt left out..."


I could tell by her sweet little quivering voice that she was trying her best not to cry. She continued, "Then I thought of the movie Pollyanna and how it was about a girl who tried to see the good in everything. I wanted to be like her. So I realized that I love my 2 little sisters so much and I'm so thankful for them. Even though my life has been hard, I'm glad my Dad remarried or otherwise I would never have my 2 baby sisters." 

My heart hurt for her and I felt like taking her home with me. She explained to me later that her sisters are 5 now, so the journey has taken her awhile.  But I also keep thinking how this girl is going to be okay, because she "gets it." She understands one of the greatest secrets of life: gratitude. Being thankful for what she DOES have, rather being stuck in the thinking of what she wants but can't have.

 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 
And I hope your turkey is already thawing in your fridge. 


If you bought flour for your pies be sure to keep it locked up from your toddlers.
Look what happened to one Mom who found out the hard way. 

18 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

What a wonderful young woman, and what great subject matter for a lesson. There is strength in being prepared for change, and in being "content with "whatsoever condition we are in," as the apostle Paul was.

I can imagine the spirit in that room as you told your story and she told hers. I only wish I could have been there to be enriched by it. I'm glad those YW were!

=)

Susan Anderson said...

That video is crazy. Jill. Do you think it really happened? Doesn't it seem just a little too well-spread? And then to have her sink overflow, too?

What do you think? I'm a bit suspicious. But you can tell the news lady believes it. Maybe it actually happened. If so, what a nightmare!!

=)

Grandma Honey said...

Sue, I tend to think it really happened. When I was pregnant (and sick) with McKay, my 2 oldest sons did something very similar with a can of protein powder. It was probably half the size of that sack of flour (or less) and it was incredible how they had that stuff spread all over our brown sectional, all over the floor, the drapes... everywhere in our living room. I cried and called my Mom. :)
Besides, what mother would do that to her own house!

grandmapeg said...

I think that young lady does "get it". My heart goes out to her. I have a sign hanging on my front door that says, "There is always something to be Thankful for". I truly believe that. Thanks for sharing this!

Ammy said...

I saw that this morning and wanted to cry for this woman. A lot of people think it's fake, but why in the world would you want to clean up a mess like that after staging it?

Grandma Honey said...

I agree Ammy. Little boys can cause A LOT of trouble in a short amount of time.

Connie said...

I had never read your story before now. My heart is breaking for what you and your sons went through!
You're a strong woman.

That young woman knows how to look for the good in life. She'll be OK.

As for the video...My 2-year-old son did that with a #10 can of powdered milk. Not fun to clean up!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Darlene said...

I was going to comment on your blog first, but when I read the comments I had to go watch the video first.

All I can say as far as the video is concerned is that it would take a whole lot more that a five pound bad of flour to spread it that much so I am a little suspicious too. Do you think it runs in the family? People will do a lot of crazy things to get a little publicity. Five pounds of flour just couldn't go that far and most little kids would just open it and play with it in just a little pile. Yes, it would spread a little, but not like that. By the way, I wonder where the mother was while all that was going on. Did I miss something? Who was watching the boys? Guess I'll go back and watch it over again.

As for your lesson, it just had to be a good one. I too, feel for your visitor, but at least she got it. She did have a lot to be grateful for. Like Sue, I would love to have been there and heard the whole lesson. I'll bet you are a very very good teacher.

Darlene said...

Well, I did go back and watch it over again and found out that the mom was in the bathroom. She must have been in there an awful long time. Still, I suppose it could have happened. At any rate, I do feel sorry for her..........all that clean up. ugh.

Lisa said...

That is a great story and what a privilege for everyone that she shared such a story! WONDERFUL post & may your THANKSGIVING be one of JOY & LOVE.

Natalie said...

I love your tender heart, Jill. It's funny to me that flour thing has been all over the news, etc. What does it say about my life that I barely batted an eye when I saw it? Maybe I need to pull out my video camera more...I could be famous!

melanie said...

Hey! My name is Melanie and I found your blog from LDSMOMS, the email group, and I love reading it! Anyways, I watched that video of the flour incident a few days ago and I both wanted to cry and laugh with that poor mom. I have three boys, and the youngest son has destroyed our entire house, brick by brick : ) I knew the video was real from her tone of voice. She wanders through the house LOOKING at this mess. Looking and sighing and wondering because the enormity of it is....enormous!!! Weary before she even starts! Unable to get mad because its just so HUGE of a mess! Let me tell you, I have done the exact same thing! When my son pulled out the 60 egg container from my fridge and broke the eggs all over his bedroom (every one), when he opened up a huge jar of lotion and spread it all over MY bedroom, when he took a huge canister of cheetos and spread them ALL over the house (I was in the bathroom : )....etc, etc...I would look at this mess and feel the air go right out of me!!! So I knew this video was real!!! I feel so bad for her! I wish I could go over and help her clean it up, dont you? Anyways, I love your blog very much, and thoroughly enjoy how wonderful you and your husband are at being grandparents!!! The love of your family comes out so strongly. I think thats why I like to read it so much!!! Anyway, thanks for blogging so much!
Melanie Segalla

Grandma Honey said...

Natalie~ YES, pull out your video camera more. The stories you could tell!

Melanie~ Welcome! I'm so happy you're here. I remember one day when my youngest was 2...I decided to write down every terrible thing he did. The paper was filling up way too quickly in the first few hours that I gave up, thinking no one would believe me anyway.

I remember one of my 2 year olds breaking a dozen eggs over our coffee table (his Dad was watching him and I was outside planting flowers!)...but SIXTY in his bedroom!!??! Oh my. I hope you took picture of that!

Annette said...

Jill what a sweet girl and yes she does get it! She will be okay in life because she seeks out gratitude. Thanks for sharing. I love you!

Becky Jane said...

Having the Lord bring special people into my life just at the right time is a blessing I need to enjoy more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Logan and Amy said...

My story is almost the same as that girl's story. When my mom got married she had twins too.

Logan

Valerie said...

Thanks for sharing. It is not easy to have a positive outlook on some things in life and I love to learn from others who do.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your family.

Holly Decker said...

that is SO powerful. thank you for sharing.

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