Saturday, January 4, 2014

Mike and the Easter Bunny

Well, Lets go back a ways to start off the background, so you can know why I love my family so much. This is a particularly fond memory now, that I am serving my own mission.

If you asked me when I was 6 years old who my heroes were, they would be my older siblings! My older brothers were especially amazing to me at this age! Blessed be the day when one of my older brothers wanted to do something with me! They would take me motocross bike riding, 4-wheeling, down to the creek to catch crawdads, to the back yard in San Diego, California to the huge homemade swing they made. They would take me shooting with them; them on a 12 gauge and me all suited up on a... bee bee gun. We made forts, we watched movies and they helped me with my math homework. They were the coolest, living, breathing brothers in the world. And every "sharing time" at school I wanted to share them, but since they also had class, I would resort to the family cat or whatever animal we had lying around.  They made me feel like I was the only person in the world. And I loved them! And one day my oldest brother Mike graduated High School and turned 19. 

For a bit of background on the following story; in my religion, when young men turn 19 they have the opportunity to volunteer to go on a mission for our church. They devote 2 years of their lives and leave all worldly possessions to serve the Lord. It is an incredible blessing. So when my oldest brother Mike turned 19, he decided to serve a mission. He got called to serve in the beautiful country of Guatemala for 2 years.

**Now you have to understand that at this age, 2 years in my mind is like 2 weeks... this is important for later... Okay back to the story,

My brother was scheduled to leave for his mission in the spring, right around Easter. So I thought I would be the BEST sister ever and get him a present to take with him. And being the stuffed animal hoarder that I was, I wanted to get him a Easter bunny. So...I proceeded to talk to my financial manager; my mother, and asked her if that could be arranged. She approved. We found the perfect Easter Bunny and I waited the entire 12 hours it took to drive from San Diego, California to Provo, Utah where we would be dropping off my brother to the Missionary Training Center. We went in, watched a movie that made everyone cry and then went outside where my family then proceeded to hug the stuffing out of my brother. I couldn't understand why everyone was crying so much, he was only going to be gone for "2 years". It wasn't very long...And I got him a bunny to keep him company the whole time! Finally it was my turn for a hug. 

It was time; my moment to give him the bunny. 

Here I go

I whipped it out from behind my back and gave it to my brother. He smiled at me and then bent down and gave me a hug. 






He told me that he loved me very much and then asked me if I would take on a very big task. Of course I accepted. "I really want this bunny, but I don't want him to get ruined, will you take care of this bunny for me while I'm gone?" he asked smiling. "Yes!" I said, with as much enthusiasm as I could muster! My heart swelled with pride that he would give me such an important task. So every day for the next "2 years" I brushed that bunny. I dressed that bunny and had tea parties with that bunny. I took the best care of that bunny and looked forward to the day when I could report back to my brother that I had been faithful and diligent in taking care of this bunny for him.  And when my brother finally returned from his mission, I presented him with that bunny again and said "I took care of the bunny like you asked, you can have it now!" And with a smile, he took it.

Sometimes I wonder if we are more like the little girl and her older brother than we realize. This memory has taught me a lot about the tasks that Heavenly Father has given us. We lived with him before and lived for the times we had to be together, to be happy as a family. We had a duty though to leave our Heavenly Parents and come on our missions to experience life and choose to come back to Him. Heavenly Father has entrusted us with Easter Bunnies of our own. He has asked us if we would take care of these bunnies, these children, brothers, sisters, moms and dads. And when we are done with our missions here on earth, could we report back to him with pride, on how well we helped our families and loved ones?

I know that we are surrounded by those that need us in our lives. Our mission is to "be" like Christ. Christ would make you feel like the whole world. He would take the time to help you, to lift you up and root you on. What a precious mission this is to take care of our loved ones and to learn to be like Christ. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. He has given me my family, and I love them.