Small Town

You know it's a small town, when the boy who sits next to you in class...

was your sister's EFY counselor and his little sister dated your cousin.

I was on my way to work and I had a small town, small world moment.

I couldn't continue my walk without writing it down, because it made tears well up inside of my heart.

We were just having class and talking about bratty kids at 11 years old with their true religions.

The kids who called that fat kids nerds and poor kids "not popular."

I was just getting scared that image and status is going to take over happiness.

I want a happy life for my family. 

I want nothing more than my kids to have true self worth.

Not self worth that comes from money and designer brands.

It's a long, shot, I won't have kids FOREVER. 

But the class makes you think about it.

Will I fail? Will it affect my siblings?

I just got a spark of nervousness.

And then I was walking out with a friend of mine that I made in the class.

I asked him if where he lived was close to another town.

His little sister dated my cousin.

He was my sisters EFY counselor.

And he told me about a talk he had with my little brother.

My fourteen year old brother one day was bawling.

He was by himself, sitting away from the group at EFY.

And this counselor thought that maybe a girl was mean to him or something.

And I couldn't even see that, every girl at EFY loved Austin.

So why was he crying? I felt sad.

He said through the most sincere tears he heard something,

that he'd never heard from a kid before.

Fourteen year olds care about video games and iPods.

But in that moment, my brother blew him away.

He was crying because he had a lesson about eternal life

and he didn't think that he could make it to live with Heavenly Father.

Incredible. My friend said he started crying when he heard that.

My friend shared with me what they talked about.

He is an example to me.

My brother is an example to me.

That should be our greatest concern.

Not the petty things.

Not what girls don't approve of your relationship...

Not the over-bearing thoughts of homework, work and weekend plans.

We don't have to worry, if we are trying our best.

If we improve everyday.

If we use the greatest gift we have been given, the atonement.

Then we can make it back.

My little brother teaches me everyday.

And my other siblings, young and old.

They are amazing.

And months later little moments can be brought up after an 8:30 class.

I just love the different people you can meet and different connections you can have.

I am happy I got to know this friend in my class, because he just made me proud to have such an amazing family and gave me something to think about on a regular Friday morning.