What's really important?

I don't want to forget what I learned at church today, so here it is:
(This was given in Young Womens, from a talk President Monson gave in 2008:)



"In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: 

“These things are important: 
temple 
marriage, 
mission,
college. 
Press on, 
set goals, 
write history, 
take pictures twice a year.”




I keep thinking of this list written by that POW.  He had 2 years to think about it.  He was given less than 25 words to tell his family.  And those were the words he so carefully chose.

I also, have been thinking of another line from President Monson's talk:
"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.  
One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

Here's a picture of Jay Hess all these years later.

He's the one in the middle.