Time to be Strong

Last weekend we traveled to Utah to attend the baptism of our nephew Fisher.  It was great to be able to be there to support Fisher and to visit with Paul's family.

 

All 16 of the Strong cousins!
Fisher is the one in the yellow shirt.

 

I have always liked the last name I gained when I married Paul . . . Strong.  Initially I was just glad to have a last name that people could spell & pronounce correctly without any assistance from me.  Over the years I have come to appreciate my last name for those who came long before Paul, and the legacy that they have left for their descendants.  At Fisher's baptism I gained an even deeper appreciation for the name as it applies to living the gospel.

 

Fisher's Grandma, gave the talk on baptism and in her talk she used his last name, (mine too) to teach the importance of the baptismal covenant.  She encouraged Fisher to

"Be Strong"

"Stay Strong" 

 and to remain "Forever Strong". 

 

I love how those phases can be applied to living the gospel. 

 

After this wonderful baptism & a yummy lunch at Fisher's house we were planning to visit Paul's Grandma who has recently moved into an assisted living home in Bountiful.  Because of this plan our kiddos were unable to play with their cousins as much as they would have liked.  Before we even left to go see Grandma I was hearing pleadings and whining from my kiddos about wanting to go to the Jessee's (their cousin's) to play more.  I repeatedly and nicely explained to them that we weren't doing that on this trip.  

 

This mantra continued as we left and headed to Bountiful.  I kept wishing my kind husband would step in, as this was his idea to visit Grandma.  But that wasn't happening and I had had enough murmuring from the backseat.  I very plainly told them that today we were going to do service and do what Jesus would  do; to visit an elderly widow. They didn't have to enjoy it but this is what was happening because it was the right thing to do! I didn't hear too much from any of them after that.

 

The kids asked as we walked in the facility & down the hall to her room, "Does she live in a hotel?" We had a nice visit with Paul's Grandma.   Despite wanting to be somewhere else, I think the kids each had a pleasant time; choosing candy from Grandma's candy jar helped I'm sure.

Hearing the talk at the baptism and visiting Great-Grandma Strong reminded me of an experience I had shortly after Elizabeth was born. We were living in Springville, UT where Paul had grown up and where 4+ generations of Strong's had also lived.  I was out walking one morning and was stopped by a friendly elderly gentlemen.  He asked if I lived in the neighborhood and what my name was. When he heard my last name was Strong he immediately asked if I was related to the Strong's that he had been acquainted with there in Springville. 

 

At that time I was unsure, but by the way he went on and on about how wonderful the Strong's were I left our short visit hoping that I  had married into a family with such a wonderful reputation.  I learned later, that in fact Paul was related to the Strong's this man talked about, and I quickly decided that as long as I lived in Springville I needed to be sure I did not do anything to tarnish the Strong family name.  In time I applied this experience to the covenant we make at baptism, to take upon us the name of Christ.  Once we take Christ's name upon us we don't want to do anything to tarnish His name.  And to do this we must "be strong", "stay strong" and He will help us be "forever strong".