Saturday, November 9, 2013
Dear Lucy, Emi, and Rosie,
Tonight I watched The Croods with Grandma and Grandpa Ellingson, and Uncle Seth and Uncle Kyle. The father of the Crood family, Grug, sees his world change and soon finds that he is unable to protect his family as he used to. Times change faster than he can adapt to, and he struggles to realize that someone else might be better at taking care of his family than he can. At a critical point in the story, however, he comes to understand that while there are some things he still doesn’t know and perhaps never will fully comprehend, there are some things that he can truly rely on--in his case, his strength.
Maybe your Poppa is the same way. I doubt myself a lot. I often think that someone else could do a lot of the things that I do much better. My follies and bad habits are painfully obvious to me, and I know there are other things that ought to be embarrassing to me but aren’t yet but will be in the near future. And despite all this, there are a few things that I do know.
I know that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Master. He knows me. He loves me, faults and weaknesses and strengths and Little Ray of Sunshine. He loves me enough to die for me. He loves me enough to live for me. That is true love, my girls: to love someone so well as to know them fully and still embrace them. I know that His priesthood and His church have been re-established on the earth. I know that living prophets and apostles guide us. I know that Christ will come again to reign in power and glory on the earth. I know that I am weak, and I know that He is mighty to save. This is my testimony, that He lives! I know these things. This is my strength.
My girls, your Poppa doesn’t know everything, and sometimes he doesn’t know much of anything. But there are some things that I know well. I hope you can come to know and love the truths that I know and love. They have brought me happiness and comfort and peace and safety.
I love you.
With all my hugs,
Poppa
