'Til We Meet Again

Don't worry. This title is inspired by a thought and a song. Not a change in our lives or anything bad that has happened. Anyway, this is kind of my scripture for thought as well.

Last night at work, we took the girls for a walk through the Logan Cemetery. (I know, it seems strange, but the girls actually really like to walk around there.) Now, I've never been the biggest fan of cemeteries. Not because I'm scared of them or believe in ghosts or monsters or anything, they just make me sad. I never really went to them growing up except to go to a graveside service of a funeral and occasionally on Memorial Day. So, I was never very happy going because I was always missing someone. But last night was a little different. The girls I work with come from a lot of different backgrounds and I'm pretty sure none of them share the same beliefs as I do when it comes to an afterlife and eternity. So walking through a cemetery in Logan, Utah, where many of the headstones have carvings of temples or inscriptions such as "'Til We Meet Again" or "Families are Forever" was a little bit different for them. Several of the girls made comments like it was sad to see such hopeful or dedicated and committed statements on the graves because they weren't sure, they don't know, that they'll be together again with their families. And listening to those comments, I looked as those graves in a different way. I saw them as a celebration of life. Of marriage. Of love. Of family. Of the testimony that yes, we will be together again. And I thought it was beautiful. I was so grateful for the Plan of Salvation and that I too have that testimony that I will be with my family forever. Those that I've lost, those I miss, I can and will be with again. I believe that right now, some of them may be playing with my unborn son. Telling him things about their lives and the people that he is going to have the chance to be with while on earth. I believe they are giving him advice and doing what they can to teach him about the gospel before he comes. Because he's not just my son. He's a part of their eternal family as well. A cousin, a grandson. And that is amazing.

In sacrament meeting on Sunday our closing song was Hymn 152 "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." And that hymn is my scripture for thought. I believe hymns can be like scripture. Praises we sing to our Heavenly Father. Ben and I both got a little choked up while singing and afterwards a neighbor friend of ours was talking to us about it. She said she liked it because sometimes we're not just singing about those of us on earth but of our eventual reunion with our Heavenly Father and Mother as well. We will meet them again. We will be together forever with our families we are sealed to and our Heavenly parents as well. And that is reason enough to have a lot of hope for what lies ahead.

Hymn 152: "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide, uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you.
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
When life's perils thick confound you;
Put his arms unfailing round you.
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love's banner floating o'er you;
Smite death's threat'ning  wave before you.
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus' feet
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.