Sunday Will Come

On March 6, 2007 my husband, Rob Epperson passed away. We knew the day before that it would be sometime soon, but as for the time, it was any one's guess. I will always remember the night of the 5th of March with tenderness. Most of Rob's closest friends were able to come by and say their good byes. I can't really remember how many of us were in the tiny blue room surrounding Rob. We told stories, laughed, and I saw all these strong men break down and cry as they said good bye to a close friend. After they left, all of Rob's family arrived, not at all prepared for what they would see. Their strong, loud, larger than life brother/son, laying frail and weak in bed. They too now surrounded the bed with tears and stories. The question came to all of their minds, how could this happen? how could Rob of all people leave us? We can't go on with out him? he's the life of the party, the oldest brother who lead us through the hard times. We can't imagine life without him. As we all tried to come to an understanding, we learned to find comfort in prayer and turning to the Savior. Having faith that even though we don't know the answers, that we still trusted in the Lord. I stayed by Rob's side all night. Not wanting to sleep, because I didn't want to miss any of my last moments with him. I just remember praying all night that the Lord would release Rob's spirit from his body. I wanted Rob to be free from all his pain and discomfort. Finally the time come. Dr. Liss had told us what to watch for right before he died, so we knew when it was coming. Everyone was gathered into the small blue room. We all watched Rob take his last breaths and leave this mortal world. The next week was kind of a blur to me. I remember having moments, thinking, this can't be my life. There is no way I am picking out a coffin and flowers for my husband. It was almost best to not think at all, because I could not comprehend reality. During this most difficult time I turned to the scriptures. There I found a comfort and peace that could not be found any where else. I on the day of the first funeral, I was reading in Alma 31 and came across this verse,"O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me." How fitting were those words to my soul! The scriptures are the one place where anyone can find peace and understanding, no matter their situation.

I have told this story so many times when I am speaking, that I feel as if everyone has heard it. But then I realize very few people I know have actually heard me speak, so I thought I would share it with you all....

Rob was buried on a Friday. Sunday morning Jake, who was only 8 years old at the time, walked into my room and asked where's Daddy? I was confused by this question and asked what do you mean? And Jake said, it's been three days, Jesus was resurrected in three days and it's been three days, so where is Daddy? My heart ache for my Jake. I explained to him that yes Daddy will be resurrected, but not for awhile. The faith and knowledge of my little boy was far beyond his own years. I came across a wonderful talk by Elder Wirthlin the October 2006 General Conference (http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-646-11,00.html) called Sunday Will Come. Elder Wirthlin said, " Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come." I know this to be true. I know no matter hard our lives may seem at a certain time, Sunday will come. I have seen this in my life and I have seen it in other's lives as well. As we trust in the Lord, keep His commandments and turn to the scriptures, we will be blessed. Most likely we won't be blessed in the way we would like. But He blesses us far better than we ever could imagine.