A Treasure of Inspiration

Inspiration

We had a lot of mixed emotions this month when we took my brother and his kids to the airport to fly out to their new home in Virginia.

Two years ago this week we moved out here to San Diego to be with them after my brother's wife passed away, having fought an amazingly valiant battle against cancer. There were many times I felt inadequate, wondering what I could possibly do to help my niece and nephews and brother. In the end, I think they helped us far more than we ever helped them. Not only did they help us have fun in our new home and make us feel welcomed and loved, but their example of strength and faith was unbelievably inspiring.

As I went through their empty house, just gathering the last minute bits and pieces to be packed or cleaned out, I came upon a treasure: quotes that my sister-in-law, Juli, had written and taped to her kitchen cabinets.

Now, to fully appreciate this find, you have to understand the kind of person Juli was. For nearly eight years she was sick, but you would never know this by being around her. She ALWAYS had a smile on her face and laughter in her heart. Every birthday brought a hand-made card she had designed and sent. We all have dinosaur bath towels she made for each of our babies when they were born. Her Christmas gifts were something she created with skill and love that we will treasure forever.

She was a brilliant, kind, gentle, wise, and loving wife and mother. And we NEVER saw her get angry--not at her children, not at her husband, not at her illness, not at God. NEVER. We often asked her how she did it. She'd just laugh and smile.

Well, I think I found one of her secrets, or at least her inspirations. And I'm going to share them! Here are some of the quotes I found:

"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention...The voice of heaven is a still small voice; likewise, the voice of domestic peace is a quiet voice." --President Gordon B. Hinckley

"The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh; but the stroke of the tongue breaketh bones." --Ecclesiastes 28:17

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice;
And be ye kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." --Ephesians 4:31-32

"Be constructive in your comments to a child--always.
Praise each child individually for what that child is.
Speak hopefully. Speak encouragingly." --Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Clearly these ideals guided her home life, as well as her husband's. Even when her body was so weak my brother had to gently carry her from place to place in his arms, she had great strength in her spirit and her words. She was ALWAYS positive, ALWAYS kind. Her strength lifted and inspired others. It was a privilege and joy to know her. We have missed her. And although we will miss her family now so far away from us, we are excited for them and their new adventure! Good luck (I said that with a pretty soft shout)!