An artist's inpsiration.

About a month or more ago, I was asked to speak about the early pioneers of our church. I remember going to pioneer day when I was about 6 and a couple other times as I grew up. Other than that, I didn't know much and unfortunately didn't care much about it - until we spent 3 1/2 years in Salt Lake City. Here I had the opportunity to learn about them because they are talked about and honoured so frequently. I put a link in here to a site that was helpful in my quest to understand. My mom has also been a big influence on me, as she is so passionate about family history changed. I know I can only imagine the hardship and will only come close to the tragedy and hardships they experienced, only in the most traumatic moments of my life.

I felt grateful for the chance to speak about them and their great example of patience, hope, and faith. Three weeks after giving my talk, an older woman came up to me and asked me if I was going to be at church the next week. I promptly said, "Yes", and she quickly said "Good, because I have a little something for you." This of course got my curiosity going and I thanked her for her thoughtfulness. I soon forgot about our conversation until after sacrament meeting the following Sunday when she was the first to be at my side. She handed me a white plastic bag and told me that she was and artist and had made me something. Excited, I pulled out a framed picture of a pioneer handcart scene. I was so shocked at her thoughtfulness, I kept saying, "Wow, thank you so much!" over and over and over again. What a beautiful gesture of gratitude.

She said that she was touched by the talk I gave, as she is from the states, and has not had the opportunity to hear about the pioneers since she left the US. I in return, was very touched by her thoughtfulness at not only telling be about her appreciation, but showing me. Other than, verbal congratulations on a good talk, or other compliments, I have never showed anyone how grateful I was for a certain talk or lesson. My dad would ask people to give them a copy of their talks or lessons in church, which I've repeated only once. I've been blessed so many times by others inspiration and now I feel inspired to pass on this woman's example into my own life.