My deaf brothers are truly my heroes. Can you imagine being born into a family of singers? I was always amazed by their strength. I’m so proud that they were the first deaf missionaries in the LDS Church serving in Canada. 🇨🇦 Now, one of them needs our prayers. My sweet Brother Tom, who is the second eldest in our family, is currently facing the fight of his life. Despite his physical challenges, he always strived to remain upbeat. This passage describes him best:
“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” 💜
Tom is so full of life and love! I’ve always seen his enthusiasm through his Christ-like 💖 and he definitely shines L❤️VE trough his eye’s. 🤩 He just has a way of warming hearts with his big smile and tender hugs. 🤗 But this weekend, love and prayers go out to Tom, his wife Carolyn, their children and grandchildren, as he struggles on life-support from his quadruple bypass surgery. 🙏😞 He has such great love for all people, including strangers. His ♥️ is so tender that at times, I swear, it even broke when he has seen others struggling. I love him for that! Maybe because he was born deaf and through some of the heartbreaking challenges of his life, they have given him great compassion and personal understanding to know how to comfort others!
I am saddened though about my dear brother’s condition because his doctor is not sure how he will do in his recovery. But I am convinced that God knows and has a plan for Tom and all of us, His children. I am comforted through Christ, who is mindful of our daily afflictions and I believe that because of our struggles we learn how to comfort others.
Our Savior knows all too well the pain that we all feel when a loved one is hurting. His heart literally broke 💔 when He made the ultimate sacrifice and chose to die on the cross at Golgotha for all of us. We read of His crucifixion and pain in Isaiah that He died so that we all might LIVE:
“(He) poured out his soul unto death.” (Isaiah 53:12)
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)
Our Father in Heaven sacrificed His only begotten Son that we might be SAVED from death and sin. I cannot even imagine the immensity of such suffering, but I am truly grateful to know that because of Him, we will ALL be resurrected someday and be made whole.
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth as such be a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
I’ve come to the conclusion that as we go through trials like illnesses and life’s struggles, they give us the opportunity, if we do choose to look upward for help. These struggles can help us turn to our God for peace and comfort and even inspire us so that we may strive to stay humble, be teachable and have the desire to help and serve others in need. I especially feel this as we reach the fall and winter seasons of our lives. We realize we are not so invincible. 😉 My sweet brother Tom's heart might be physically hurting right now, but he is not broken! I KNOW and LOVE the example he has set for me through the years ☺️ He has acquired a broken heart and contrite spirit with all that he's been through! He has always shown me, through his example, to look upward and how much he loves his God by how he loves those around him unconditionally! He loves God’s children and is a great example of our Savior’s love. My greatest wish for him is to enjoy a second chance at life and have many more years on this earth with his family, but the Lord’s plan will always be done and I am comforted to know that no matter what happens, our bond is eternal and families are forever! I love you with with all my 💞 my sweet brother Tom! You are so cherished and loved!!! 😘❤️ 💜 🧡💛💚
Have a blessed and Happy Sunday! 💋