Beautiful Courage

We knew for some time that a new family was moving to our town. They would be attending our church and the same schools as some of our children. When Christina found out that this family had a girl her age, she took initiative and emailed her principal asking if this girl could be on her team at school. She then started spreading the word that a new girl was coming to the school. Christina was thrilled to find out that in fact this girl would be on her team and Christina's enthusiasm rubbed off on her classmates who all became excited for the "new girl" to arrive and it was natural to befriend her right away.

I told Christina that this act of kindness was no small thing. From a mother's perspective it is SO hard to know that a decision such as moving that may be best for the family, will also bring difficult transitions for your children. We went through that just a couple years ago, and my prayers were for my children that they would have at least one truly good friend, and a good teacher. In talking with the mother of this family, she said that their last move was hard on her daughter who is Christina's age. It took a while to make friends, and she was grateful and relieved that the move here was so much easier for their daughter because she was able to make friends right away.

I told Christina that many times the Lord answers our prayers through other people and in this case, she was an answer to this mother's prayer for a smooth transition for her daughter. Christina replied by saying, "I thought of Nicole. (a friend who moved away last summer) Nicole had a hard time making friends when she first moved, and she said, 'If you ever see someone sitting alone in the back of a classroom, go talk to them and be their friend.'"

"In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.”

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Christina,

When you courageously share your beautiful spirit, you truly radiate happiness and real beauty. Thank you for your shining example of goodness. What makes this experience even sweeter to me is that you offered this girl more than others offered you when we first moved here and you first attended this school. You courageously followed your heart. I am so very proud of you.

With my love,