A choice friend recently went through the temple last month. There was a time when she dreaded even the thought of going there. Not because of what it was, but she wanted to make sure she was committed to keep the covenants she entered into there. She went to the temple completely by herself. Her escort was a temple worker. She wanted it this way, because for her, she needed to experience the temple by herself. She called me up about a week ago and said she was ready to go to the temple with the ward and asked if I would be willing to come. My ward temple night was the day before and being in a new ward I wanted to support them, but this dear friend "going public" with others knowing she was endowed meant a lot to me. I prayed. I was to go with her which I was trilled about. For the last week I have been anticipating to going to the temple with her last night.
Yesterday while at work, I thought of another friend that I had not seen in a long time. I called her up and asked if she would like to come with us. Her situation is quite tough. The amount of afflictions she has in her physical/mental areas are some of the greatest battles. And yet this sweet sister chooses the better path. She could be over come by sorrow and grief and yet she strives to live each day defiant and full of faith. She kills her "odds" with her believe/trust in Jesus Christ.
She said that she would go, but an hour or so later she called me to let me know that she just didn't think she would be able to go. She didn't have any clean clothes and her mom was really sick. I told her that if she would pray about whether to go or not I would support whatever she received. I suggested that she wash her clothes in the tub and hang them up to dry if she was really worried about something to wear. She said she would pray.
A few hours later she left me another message saying she would be ready to go at 6. :)
As I entered her house my heart became heavy as I looked at the challenges that face she and her mom. I was proud of her for wanting to go to the temple.
As I went into her room. She had surgery on her ankle (I think it was her ankle/foot area-don't quote me) and still had the cast on. She has not been to the temple since the beginning of Aug. But cast and crutches she was determined to do a session. I had forgotten my advice about washing her clothes, but as I gave her a hug I was shocked to feel her all wet. She looked BEAUTIFUL! But I exclaimed that her clothes were all wet and she just smiled and told me that she washed them like I had suggested. My heart swelled with the faithfulness of this sweet sister.
Now please note- it is Oct, and yesterday in the valley it was so cold that we had a good scuff of snow! This is a picture taken from my car on the way out of work. See that mountain-- there is snow on the top of it!! This tells you it was not the "warmest" of days.Now this sweet sister was not thinking of the weather outside. I doubt she had been outside for a few days. But here she was wet skirt, shirt, and sweater/cardigan--crutches and cast--hobbling out to my car! What a site. My heart was full.
When we got in my car, I put the heater on to quite a full blast and aimed it her.
We drove picked up our friends and went to the temple. I dropped everyone off as close as I could. I was really worried about getting out of the temple at 9 pm and having her wet clothes make her sick. As I was thinking this, a spot was available for front row parking!! At least I could run to my car and not have her sit out in the cold too long.
I went into the temple and found my adopted grandparents waiting to do initiatory!! This was a surprise because of health reasons the Shepherds had said they wouldn't make it to the stake temple night anymore. This was a kind blessing from God to see them there. I also saw other sisters from my old ward that I so dearly loved--the whole situation was choice.
We went to go do a session. I could not help smiling at my friends and to God. There were two sisters there that were at the temple for their second time. It was beautiful to behold. And there was my friend with her crutches against the wall, just happy to be in the temple.
Through the session I still thought about how when we left the temple with her wet clothes--IF she became sick it would be my fault. I said a silent prayer. I had thought about going and asking the temple workers to dry her clothes in the temple dryers but thinking that would not work because of sanitary reasons--then I thought maybe I could ask them if we could lay out the clothes where the workers change their clothes, perhaps the 1 1/2 of being in the session would allow them to dry out more. The thought of the clothes being in a small locker with no air--just made the thought of her putting them back on wet all the more dreadful. These are the thoughts that raced in my mind...so in the session I prayed/asked/thought in my mind that Heavenly Father could send some angles to blow-dry the clothes in the locker. I explained the faith of this sister in coming to the temple that night and all her efforts. Now she had not complained once about her clothes. And in fact--had I not hugged her I would have never known they were wet! She would have just let me taken her for she would have not said a word. That is just how this sister is/has--faith of David and non murmuring like Nephi.
I stewed over her clothes for a few more moments and then focused on the endowment and basked in the sisters sitting around me. I LOVE that God gives us brothers and sisters to love!
The session finished, and it was sweet. I was able to shake my old bishoprics hands in the celestial room--choice sons of God. I told my old Bishop about this sister and her wet clothes. He too knows the type of determination she has, even at the sacrifice of comfort. He beamed with is smile for her.
We all went downstairs. I changed out of my temple clothes and met my friends in the lobby. My cast/crutch using sister was waiting for me. I hugged her...and found her clothes to be completely DRY! Not believing it I rubbed her sweater and exclaimed that the angels had gotten out their blow-dryers! I wanted to cry. She was completely dry.
We talked about the miracle all the way back to her place.
...
This morning as I got up to walk--the natural man in me wanted to rationalize this miracle. But I have done the math. A locker that is 5 1/2 feet'ish tall 12 inches'ish wide and 15-17 inches'sih deep--no air circulation--wet/damp clothes hanging in there for two hours = still damp/wet clothes coming out! Think of a boys locker room after a practice. Sweaty clothes hung in a locker-no air circulation for two hours = still moist, now smelly, I don't want to go on a date with you if you are wearing those same clothes!
...
MY CONCLUSION:
Angels HAVE blow-dryers!
:)
Needless to say - it was a choice night in the temple.
Jesus is the Christ!
God is a God of miracles.
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