LIFT UP THY HEART AND REJOICE

Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.                                                                                                             D&C 25:13

It had been 5 years. Try as he might, Jeremy could not get his mother to respond to his efforts to stay in touch. He had married, graduated, begun his career, and become a father – nothing. Still, the couple reasoned, Jack’s mother deserved to meet her granddaughter, so they decided to pay her a surprise visit while on their vacation that year.

            “What! No one lives here anymore!” exclaimed Jack as they pulled up to the family bar/home. He called his sister just younger than him, with whom he had managed to maintain sporadic contact.

   Credit Cards, Business Credit Cards, Cash Back Credit Cards, Student Credit Card          “Oh, didn’t I tell you? They’ve condemned the place for another stupid highway expansion. Mom lives over on 68^th Street now. And “Fuzzbucket” is buying his own shaving cream these days – Mom dumped him awhile ago.”

            “68^th Street! That’s nice over there. Glad to hear it.”

            His knock was answered by a soft, serene, gray-headed, grandmotherly lady.

            “Jeremy!”

            “Mother?”

            “Won’t you come in?”

            “Oh . . . yeah, sorry. It’s just that . . . uh, this is my wife Brenda, and your granddaughter. Her name is Karen. Karen, this is your grandma. Can you tell her how old you are?”

            Beautiful little Karen shyly held up 3 stubby fingers.

            There was a long pause as his mother struggled for composure. “Jeremy, do you remember that lesson on repentance the summer you were home? I was standing there listening the whole time. I felt so ashamed. But that lesson got me to my bishop, especially the “not too late” part. I didn’t answer your letters or calls because I didn’t feel worthy to be your mother. I’m so glad you’re here. Can you stay ‘til I get back? I’m meeting Sister Johnston at the bus stop on the corner, in about 3 minutes. We go to the Temple together every Tuesday and Friday. You’ll be here, won’t you?”

            “Oh Mama!”