Savannah’s blessing

Today Savannah received her patriarchal blessing. Marsh brought Laura up for it. President Smith (former Stake President) was the patriarch. When he saw Marsha’s last name on her name tag he asked if she was related to Francis Gibbons. When she said yes he had a few stories to tell because he grew up in the stake where Uncle Frank lived including during the time that Uncle Frank was the Stake President. He had each of us tell about ourselves and share our thoughts on Savannah. He had Savannah share her testimony. Then he proceeded to give her a beautiful blessing.

I had been fasting in preparation for Savannah’s blessing but in Sunday School I found myself receiving insights about Alyssa. After getting home from the blessing I brought Alyssa into my room and told her about the impressions I had received about the importance of her learning to make us of the resources that were available to her, especially the insight and experience of her parents. I told her that while Savannah had the reputation as the successful “golden child” and she had the reputation as the troubled, difficult child the reality was that she had the capacity to be absolutely as successful in any arena as Savannah but that to make that a reality she would need to learn to work with those who wanted what was best for her and were in a position to offer her more insight and perspective than she had yet acquired. It was a great talk and the Spirit was present.

At the end of the day I had another great talk with Laura which will hopefully lay the groundwork for her to be anchored to what she needs to do each day for hey own healing and long term health.