Remembering........

Life is filled with wonderful and sad memories,

Although the happy thoughts always override the saddest of memories,

there are a few that you sure seem to never forget.

A couple of years ago, my family experienced a great loss.

One of which has altered my entire family.

My baby cousin, Allan, had passed away in a car accident.

No words can ever express the sadness my heart feels whenever I think of him.

As the years go by, it only gets easier to think about, but the question remains the same.

WHY? 

I sort of found my answer a while back.

Here it is:

In the teachings of Joseph Smith, pages 196-197, we read

"“The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth."

The scriptures teach us that children are innocent, pure and filled with the Love of Christ.

And because of this, they are without knowledge of sin and saved by the blood of our Redeemer.
 ( D&C 29:46)

That's what truly ever comforts me.

 Knowing that he had been reunited with our Father in Heaven,

instead of dwelling in the spiritual realm waiting for someone to do work on his behalf.

Although I continue to question why such a trial had to come into our lives,

I rejoice in knowing that he had been reunited with our Heavenly Father

and that there is no doubt he is looking down upon us all smiling 

with that beautiful face we all came to love and now miss.

I came across this little excerpt a few days ago.

It's from the 1918 Edition of The Improvement Era and it states,

“President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, reported: ‘Joseph Smith taught the doctrine that the infant child that was laid away in death would come up in the resurrection as a child; and, pointing to the mother of a lifeless child, he said to her: ‘You will have the joy, the pleasure and satisfaction of nurturing this child, after its resurrection, until it reaches the full stature of its spirit."

Death is never an easy concept to grasp.

But I am grateful for having known such a wonderful soul in my life.

Allancito may have been only six, but he taught us all the true meaning of life.

I remember each and every one of his birthday celebrations at our home in Chicago.

He treasured the little things in life and made us all remember what it was to be a child.

I will never forget those chubby little cheeks and those long eye lashes he would bat in order to get some otter pops. Or as he liked to call them. "Bolis"

I will also never forget, how nervous he got when
 I asked if he'd be my escort for my Quatillion.
He'd walk around the house asking my mom if he had to dance to the "cha cha"
I miss the laughter and smiles he brought to our home.
I also miss those little spider man light up shoes he adored.

I know Heavenly Father has great plans for us all.

I also know that each hardship and heartache we face, is for our benefit in one way or another.

All we can every truly do, is trust the Lord that everything will be okay.

And live a righteous life so that we may one day be reunited with our families in Heaven.

I am extremely thankful for the Priesthood which makes family sealings possible.

I am also thankful for the temples, which allow us to do work for the dead.

I miss my cousin a lot. He was like my little brother, 

but I know without a doubt that he is not suffering,

instead he is rejoicing in eternal glory with our Heavenly Father.

May he forever Rest in Peace.