Papa, can you tell me your testimony?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

The other night my oldest son was helping me with a computer issue at his house. While waiting for a large download of a program, he gave me a ride to my sister’s house to pick something up. It was dark outside already, and his youngest daughter was already with my wife, at a restaurant for dinner. So, his oldest daughter “Zoey Lee”, just one of my seven beautiful granddaughters, said to me from the back seat, “Papa, can you tell my your testimony”? She is only 10 years old, and it caught my son and myself a bit off guard. So, I asked, “my testimony of what”? She said, “of the Gospel and the Church of course”? So, seeking to clarify, I asked, “which part of it”, to which she said, “everything”. So, I said “this trip is only about 45 mins long, so can I just tell you of the beginning, and how I found it, or how it found me, and how your Daddy was a part of that story”? Her reply was, “yes, that would be wonderful”! 
 

It was a wonderful experience, and a very humbling experience, things of which I spoke, that my son had never heard. It was a wonderful reminder of the joy of children and grandchildren, and of something that binds us all together. It was also very emotional, and an experience and opportunity that I thanked her for giving me. I won’t get into the entire testimony, as it was secondary to the experience. 
 

Now if this pulls at the heartstrings, what happened on the way back was even more humbling, for me at least for me. Zoey then asked, “Papa, can we go on a Papa, granddaughter date”? I said “well of course we can, when would you like to pick me up”? I was not trying to make fun, but I guess trying to lighten the mood, as I was very chocked up, and taken aback. She thought for a couple of minutes, and said, “well, I can’t drive yet, so I guess you will have to pick me up, and if you don’t mind, you can you also pick up Remy”. Now, Remy is her cousin, and one of my other granddaughters, who is also 10 years old. When I agreed, I told her we have to figure out a good time, maybe after you all get back from Utah, from seeing your other grandparents. At this point, I then had to ask, “Zoey, sweetie, what brought this on, why are you asking Papa on a date”? Her reply brought me to tears, “because you just spend so much time in your room, because of being hurt, and I worry about you”. 
 

When we got back to my son’s house, I had to ask him, “did you ask her to do this”. He said “no Dad, not the testimony, nor the date, you heard it, just when I did”. When my wife arrived to take me home, I then told her, which again yanked at both our heartstrings all over again. 
 

It turned into one of those, “count your many blessings”, kind of days, weeks, months, years, kind of moments, and a reminder of the many blessings of family and the Gospel. Especially “my family”! I know everyone must think their children and grandchildren are the best on earth, and this is as it should be. But, two nights ago, in my case it was true. I am indeed a rich man, and truly blessed, regardless of my many trials and difficulties, as of late. I am sure, that my posts, and comments must at times seem too much, but I just had to share this one, so forgive.