When logged in to churchofjesuschrist.org, you can look under 'Resources,' select 'Patriarchal Blessing,' and not only request a copy of your own blessing if needed, but also request copies of blessings given to any deceased direct-line ancestors. I did that a number of years ago and logged in tonight (or actually, this morning) to read the copies I have access to.
I reread those of my grandparents and my Dad, then pulled out my own blessing's paper copy and read it, too. I feel... quieted, now.
There were so many powerful, beautiful statements and promises given to those who came before me. Reading their blessings just now, it stood out to me that they were all so individualized. None were even close to the same--yes, each was told their lineage and made aware of the ultimate purpose of life in Earth, but even the delivery of those details were customized. Yet every single one contained true counsel for the specific person being addressed, which, for each of them, I benefit from having known near to and at the end of their journeys on this Earth. I know, in some part, who they ultimately became. I know high-level details of their challenges and heartbreaks in mortality and am left marveling at the retrospective, evident hand of the Lord I see, looking at their lives with even my cursory knowledge of what they entailed and how the Lord guide and prepared them via their Blessings.
It gives me hope for the promises I'm still waiting to recieve. It makes me emotional and even excited about how much more I will experience before it's my time to leave this mortal life. I'm now middle-aged by the standards of modern society, but really, I'm so very, very young, with so much more ahead of me. Sometimes this world feels impossible and hopeless and helpless-making, but as I consider all these loved ones made it through, I have faith that I, too, will find beauty, even amidst the heart-wrending difficulties I have yet to both experience and witness.
As I was writing, I was thinking about how long each of these people lived. I literally *just* realized J turned the same age my Dad was when he died barely six days ago. My eyes fill with tears at the realization. J is so young! Dad was so young! It's astounding that I, too, have nearly outlived him. It fills me with an aching gratitude for the life I get to live. The contrast of what I've experienced and what Dad experienced before he died is so different. I hope I am making my life everything good it can be--the most it can be!
My grandfathers's blessings both mentioned service in the war. It's so hard to grasp the different world they grew up in! And the ages each of them were when they recieved their blessings-- I've never spent much time thinking of these bonified adults of my life as young as they were then: 12, 15, 17, 19, 25... I'm forced to conclude we all need the Lord and his guidance, and we all need it early; maybe even as early as possible.
I'm going to sleep now, filled with warmth for the giants I come from, their faith, and the peace of the hope this reading has brought me. Good night!
