let’s roll

He can serve a one year service mission (which is available to all). Would you think less of him if he opted to do so? Do you think less of the 60% of missionaries from your Stake who you report retuned home early from their missions? If this young man said he would serve two years and came home after one, would you think less of him?

I think of the three parts as: 1. Those who chose to come to earth to gain a mortal body and be tested; 2. Those who chose to come to earth only to gain a mortal body (won’t be tested because they either die before the age of accountability or, because of mental delay, never become accountable during mortality); and 3. Those who chose to reject earthly mortality to follow Satan. As you noted, there is no reason to think the three parts are equal in number.

If the suggestion in one post in this thread (which I can’t find right now) that believing parents pour their adult child an occasional “glass of win” was a typo and was meant to be “glass of wine” I think the intended version is thoughtful advice regarding how parents can demonstrate nonjudgmental love. If pouring your adult child an occasional “glass of win” was the intended advice and not a typo, it was even more brilliant and might be the best parenting advice I’ve ever read. I think all parent-child relationships would improve if parents would remember to pour their children a metaphorical “glass of win” on a regular basis.

Thanks for sharing. A thought to consider…if there is a sibling that you think enjoys socializing with you and your partner, find ways to spend more time with them. Since your understanding is that some of your siblings wanted you two to be invited to Florida, plan something with them. No need to explicitly exclude the others, but no reason not to share time and grow closer to those who want to spend time and grow closer to you. Best wishes.

There is wisdom here. Thanks for your insight. As the giver of a gift recognizing the importance of the need for the receiver to value the gift, I might have said something like…my dear children, you know how I use my art for both self expression and as expressions of my love. I’m giving you this art which was created with the love you have given me since your birth in mind in an effort to return that love so you will always have a part of me with you, even after I’m gone, and hope you will think of me and how much I love you each time you see it. As the receiver of the art I hope I would recognize the love and effort that went into the creation of the art, take at face value the words and sentiments of the artist and let those thoughts and feelings outweigh any discomfort about the religious context of the art.