Peace is Lovely

I love this picture of Reed that I borrowed from his Facebook page. I hope his family doesn’t mind. It seems a fitting visual metaphor. Reed has gone on to a higher place.

Today was a hard day all around. I learned this morning that David’s cousin, Reed passed away last night.  He had to deal with so many trials in his short life (I think he was only 22) but he was an inspiration to a lot of people, including me. He had been sick for a long time—almost the whole time I have known his family (I’ve been married for almost 14 years). I know he had struggles—incredibly hard ones—but when I read the letters he sent to his family from his mission, his personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as our Savior was evident. He tried to maintain a positive outlook in spite of his hardships and did the best he could to keep the commandments and follow the example of Jesus Christ.

Reed was a lot of fun to be around. He loved to laugh. He loved his family very much. Perhaps the loveliest things today are the knowledge I have that Heavenly Father has a plan for us—that families can be together forever and the outpouring of love for Reed’s family that I have witnessed from across the country .  I wish my family and I could be there to give them hugs and tell them in person how much we love them and how much we will miss Reed.

I know that because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection that “He [has] swallow[ed] up death in victory. . .”  (see Isaiah 25:8) and that the separation caused by death is only temporary. It’s still hard; his family and friends will still miss him, but I have a perfect brightness of hope that we will see Reed again one day. That gives me peace and peace is a very lovely thing.