Families are Forever!

Every so often I am lucky enough to be able to have a startlingly clear glimpse into what awaits us in the next life.  Last night was one of these lucky moments for me.  I was watching the "Spiderwick Chronicles" movie alone in my room since Scott is studying for his limited scope license, and for those of you who haven't seen the movie, Arthur Spiderwick, who was the author of the book this movie is centered on, was taken away by "fairies" and preserved in another kind of dimension where the passage of time was much slower than in the real world.  Upon his capture, he left behind a little daughter who couldn't have been older than 10, I think her name was Lucia.  Lucia said she spent her life waiting for her father to come walking back up the path, and finally after some time she gave up hope.  By the time Arthur Spiderwick was able to come back to see her, Lucia was an 86-year-old woman.  Arthur Spiderwick said he couldn't stay because all his years would come back to him at once and he would die.  So Lucia says "okay, then this time take me back with you."  So they hold hands, and Lucia is youthened to the exact age she was when her father first left her, and the movie shows them walking back the road to the other dimension, surrounded by fairies.

At this point, I was struck by such a powerful force that I immediately started sobbing.  I was hit with such a clarity that this was just like how it is with Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation.  Lucia spent her whole life fatherless, but she was able to return to this sort of "paradise" where time essentially stands still to spend the rest of her days with her father, having the exact relationship as when he left her.  All of her earthly cares, sorrows, and struggles were lifted.  I knew that the same was true for me, and for anyone really, having lost a loved one, or who has become estranged from a family member, like a sibling or son/daughter or father/mother, or other similar circumstances.  I saw a vision where I was with all of my family together, not only the ones who came before me who I haven't even met, but also my posterity as well, all together, enjoying the same relationships we had or will have here on earth, living our lives for eternity in pure bliss under Heavenly Father's presence, and this revelation I had almost literally paralyzed me with happiness.  It was almost as if the Spirit had lifted the veil from my eyes for a few blissful seconds, and it is something I feel compelled to share with others.

I don't know why Heavenly Father chose to share this with me at this time, because I know I have been very undeserving.  My heart of late seems to have often been filled with anger, stress, and impatience.  I haven't been doing very well in doing the things that keep me close God, not to mention the things that will keep our family close to God.  I felt very undeserving, and yet my heart was overflowing with the love I felt from Heavenly Father.  I felt his forgiveness, understanding and acceptance of the things that I had been doing with my life, but I understood that he allowed me to see/understand this eternal truth because I needed this gentle reminder to get my life back on track.  How could I have forgotten that this life is the only time that I have to prepare to meet God?  I get caught up with the other things in life, like taking care of my family, chores, work, etc., which are all well and good, but when the Judgment day comes, is it going to matter who clean my house is?  This life is so short, and everything I do now will depend on the type of eternity my family and I have later, and I want to make sure that I am preparing myself to live in Heavenly Father's presence.  Once I prove myself, all of my sorrows will be lifted and I will be able to live the rest of eternity in happiness and peace.   

I am so grateful for Heavenly Father's love and wisdom.  I am grateful for his Plan of Happiness.  I am grateful to be able to be sealed to my family for time and eternity and I'm especially grateful for the knowledge and testimony I have of the gospel, for the comfort, peace, and joy it brings to my life.  I am eternally grateful for my Savior, for I know that without Him, the Plan of Salvation wouldn't be possible, and I know that because of Him I can repent from my sins and be relieved of my pain and suffering.  I am grateful also, for all of my many, many blessings.  In this time of unease where we hear of earthquakes, floods, fires, wars and rumors of wars, for surely we are in the last days, I realize that everything I have is a gift from God, and that includes my life, my family and every earthly possession.  I know that He is entitled to take any of these things away in an instant, but I am grateful that he allows me to have these things.  Who would have thought a silly movie like this would have opened my heart and allowed the Spirit to touch me?  God surely works in mysterious, but wondrous ways.