One of My Many Choice Experiences

by Janet Averret

Melissa is married to my brother and became a dear friend over the 13 1/2 years I’ve known her. Marrying her was the best decision my brother could have made. She has added so much beauty, joy and peace to his life (and all of our lives).

If I could find a word to describe Melissa, it would be “righteous” and “Christlike.” She was (and still is) full of love, faith, patience, wisdom, and gentleness. One of my many choice experiences with her came at a time I was struggling to know what degree to choose. I had 5 children still at home and a disabled husband and found the need to finish my education to provide more adequately for our family.

I had been attending college for several years and was a Senior at BYU and still wasn’t sure what degree to choose.. Nursing… Teaching… Speech Therapy… Psychology… I loved and was interested in so many thing but I wanted to make the best choice that I’d love and be happy doing for the rest of my life. Sam recommended I call her and talk to her, which was a great idea. I told her I felt that every time I prayed about it, Father would say “Whatever you choose would be okay.” But I wanted Him to choose for me. He knew me best and knew what I’d love doing most and what would be stable employment and would help me in my mission on earth.

I’d decide to do nursing and would feel great about it for several weeks then all these doubts and concerns would come to my heart and mind. Melissa in her wisdom and love of course would never tell anyone what to do, she would just guide with a quiet and gentle voice and with eternal principles.

She reminded me of the story in the Book of Mormon about the Brother of Jared building the barges. Instead of telling me what lesson I should take from it, she asked questions, like: “What was the problem with the barges?” (they had no light) and “When He asked the Lord what to do, what did Heavenly Father say?”

Her lesson at this time of struggle in my life was that the Lord doesn’t tell us what to do. He didn’t tell the Brother of Jared to get clear stones so he could touch them. Instead, he thought of an idea, did the work, and presented it to the Lord and ask the Lord to touch the stones to give them light. The Lord wants us to reason things out for ourselves and make the best choice we can and go forth in faith, trusting that the Lord will bless our choices for our good, and even asking for that peace that comes.

Since then I have learned that my mission in life (though my blessing said education would help me along this path) is not in a “degree” but in the things I’m learning on this Journey through life, with my family and children, my jobs, my marriage, my struggles, my goals, and being guided (even if it’s just one step at a time) by a loving and kind Father.

Melissa got her second mission call last Thursday morning when she was called home and her plane left today. I shall rejoice when I see her again. She taught me so much by her quiet example and righteous and God-like walk in life. Thank you for the privilege of knowing and loving you.