Emmanuel

Like everyone else on planet Earth the year 2020 is not one I will easily forget. I started out the year losing my dad. The time I was able to spend with him at the end of his life is precious to me and some of the experiences I had are sacred. I want to share some of it in the hopes that it will strengthen you as it has me. It will take multiple posts to do so.

Up until October 2019 my brother and sister-in-law were the caregivers for Dad.  They made huge sacrifices to watch over him. In the last couple years of his life it was 24-hour care. Then in October Dee dee (my SIL) let me know that her own dad needed help in another state and asked me to come and take over. We had done this before, me coming so she could go; but little did we know that we were both going to help our dads in their final days.

In the beginning of my watch I heard Emily Belle Freeman describe a spiritual practice that got me through the next few months. Each Sabbath day during the sacrament she asked herself which of the names of Christ she would carry in her heart...which name did she NEED to meet her challenges. I was intrigued and decided to try that. There are so many challenges with care-giving and if anyone needed heavenly help, I certainly did. So the next Sunday I read through a list of names the scriptures use for Jesus Christ, stopping at Emmanuel. I felt a tug on my heart. Three Bible verses were listed with it so I looked them up and discovered, according to St. Matthew, Emmanuel means "God with us." If anyone needed God with us, I certainly felt that Dad and I did. Only two days later would I have an experience that showed me how perfectly God is with us. And that is what I want to share.

On the morning of December 17, during my personal prayers, I prayed for Dee dee's dad who was in the hospital with serious issues. Into my mind came the following words, "Pray for Dee dee to be reconciled." My heart sank, but then I prayed according to those instructions. Within the hour Dee dee called me in tears. She had an experience of her own which I share with her permission.

As Dee dee was waking that morning she was surprised to suddenly "see" a woman dressed in blue. The woman said, "We lost him." Then the vision faded. In shock, and then with resolve, she gave herself a pep talk about not losing faith and staying positive about her dad. The phone rang only minutes later. It was the hospital. Her dad had gone into cardiac arrest and was on life support. Dee dee called to ask me to pray. I ended up telling her about the experience I had earlier that morning, to pray for her to be reconciled. She cried and my heart ached for her; but she was grateful to God for letting her know His will and that she should prepare herself.

As we shared our two experiences, the name Emmanuel came to my mind. Oh, my gosh! EMMANUEL. God with us. He was with us! And we marveled at that realization. The days and weeks that followed only reaffirmed what had been shown us that morning.  God was aware of us and the two men who were preparing to return to their heavenly home. And He was going to help them (and us) to walk that difficult path, making it holy ground.

And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you...and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led. 1 Nephi 17:13, The Book of Mormon

President Russell M. Nelson ended his incredible address, Hear Him, at the April 2020 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with these words:

God lives! Jesus is the Christ! His Church has been restored! He and His Father, our Heavenly Father, are watching over us. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Now I have that same witness. God is with us! Emmanuel. It fills me with courage, hope, and gratitude...even if it is 2020.