FHE in a bag...a big bag!

       School started for the most of the kids in my neighborhood on Monday.  I was trying to figure out what I should do for Family Home Evening and realized that most families with children would be celebrating the big day and they would most likely want this to be a special family time.  As I considered who I could share FHE with, I remembered reading on Facebook my friend, Jenny, was in the hospital. She had just moved to Utah from back east and started her new job when she found out she had a relapse of Leukemia.  I hadn't seen her in almost twenty years.
      We were EFY (Especially For Youth) Counselors together.  One morning during our counselor devotional at EFY, I don't know why, but I crammed myself inside a suitcase, had it zipped up, and waited.  The counselor giving the devotional was in on the joke.  When all the other half-awake counselors rolled in, one of them was asked to get out a handout from the suitcase...that's when I popped out.  Surprise!   As you can imagine, if the other counselors were not awake when they arrived, their morning slumber suddenly ceased.

        Well, Jenny was at EFY when this happened, so I thought, to bring back old times, I needed a big bag.  I found a rather large, blue, rolling duffel bag that I have lugged on many trips.   I tried it out before going to the hospital...yep!  I fit.  I brought it to the hospital and had the nurse zip me up and wheel me in to Jenny's room.  The duffel bag/suit case was unzipped and I popped out.  I couldn't see Jenny's face, but I hope it made her smile.  We had a great chat and even though it had been almost twenty years since I have seen her, I enjoyed laughing together, reminiscing, and catching up.  Our visit was short, but long enough for me to see the seriousness of her situation and the courage she is demonstrating in her battle.  I'm so glad I was able to visit her. 
          Jenny has a smile that lights up the room.  It is easy to feel loved in her presence.  She is quick-witted and wise.  Although she is still single, she is truly the epitome of the word STALWART.  When she was first diagnosed with Leukemia, she was the Relief Society President in her family ward (while she was attending graduate school!).  As sick as she was, she held Presidency meetings from her hospital room!   She endured bravely and fought hard.  Eventually, she recovered.  She then finished her doctorate degree (her dissertation was on Mormon women's history).  Amazing!  She was offered a job in Salt Lake and bought a house.  Just after she moved to Utah, she was called to be in the Primary Presidency.  A month later, Leukemia relapsed.  Someone posted this on Jenny's Facebook page, "PS your sharing time on Sunday was amazing! Yes that's right everyone, while in the hospital getting chemo Jenny still was able to fulfill her calling as first councilor in the primary. That movie you made was awesome the kids loved it!! You are truly an amazing woman!!"  After reading this, it caused me to ask myself if I have allowed mundane obstacles to become excuses for not fully fulfilling my callings.  If she can fulfill her callings from her hospital bed, surely I can make sacrifices to attend meetings, attend to my responsibilities and attend to my neighbors in need.  After being with Jenny, I want to be "more fit for the kingdom" and in doing so, "more used would I be."  (Hymn #131). 

        If you want to know more about Jenny and her story, here is a post about her Relief Society Presidency from her blog.  http://jennyreeder.blogspot.com/2011/01/lift-up-hands-which-hang-down-and.html    Jenny is truly a rock, because she is built on THE rock (Helaman 5:12). 

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."