Together is Better!

Last week Elder Davis had to make a quick trip to Utah for some dental needs. As I dropped him off at the airport and drove away I felt a real loss. My constant companion the last 4-months was gone! I told myself as I drove the half hour on unfamiliar roads back to our apartment You can do this! You can do hard things!

When I got home I went straight to my knees and thanked God for the safe drive home and asked for Elder Davis to have a safe and productive trip.

For the next 5 days I kept myself busy at the Mission Office working on the 2025 mission history to be submitted to Salt Lake by March 31st. I made sure I got back to my apartment before dark each night.

My mom and dad checked in with me every day making sure I was safe and good 💗once a parent forever a parent no matter how old their children are. I am grateful thanks Mom and Dad💝

Elder Davis was able to get his teeth fixed and spend some unexpected treasured time with our daughters Krystal, Nichole, Alicia and families and his brother Sheldon, Dale and my brother Rod and families.

Of course Elder Davis and I text, FaceTimed and did our best to stay connected. While in Salt Lake he met with the vehicle supervisor over him and 22 other missions and showed him what he had been programing to make his responsibilities easier. It caused a bit of excitement for the good. We will see where that goes.

Back together again and we feel better!

The time apart caused me to reflect on how much we need each other whether that is a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend. We all need someone to cheer us on.

I read a beautiful talk recently called We’ll Ascend Together By Linda K. Burton she said:

“We need each other! We need to lift each other and help each other become the people the Lord would have us become. And we need to work together to lift the rising generation and help them reach their divine potential as heirs of eternal life. We could do as Elder Robert D. Hales and his wife, Mary, have done and follow the proverb “Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee, and we’ll ascend together⁠.”

Sister Barbara B. Smith wisely taught, “There is so much more of happiness to be had when we can rejoice in another’s successes and not just in our own.” ^{When we seek to “complete” rather than “compete,” it is so much easier to cheer each other on!}

How often do we intentionally “speak kind words to each other”?

We might test ourselves by asking a few questions. These questions can apply to most of us, whether we are married or single, whatever our home situation might be.

1. When was the last time I stopped myself from saying something I knew could be hurtful?
2. When was the last time I apologized and humbly asked for forgiveness—without adding the words “but if only you had” or “but if only you hadn’t”?
3. When was the last time I chose to be happy rather than demanding to be “right”?

if any of these questions lead you to squirm or feel a tinge of guilt, remember that Elder David A. Bednar has taught that “guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body—a warning of danger and a protection from additional damage.”

Elder Davis and I add our testimonies that working together⁠, we are stronger and we are better!

“Thee lift me and I’ll lift thee, and we’ll ascend together⁠.”

We LOVE YOU, YOU CAN DO hard things. We are CHEERING YOU on❣️

❣️Skittles Elder Scott and Sister Kristy Davis❣️