As the celebration of Easter comes to a close for another year, I’ve had time to reflect on some common thoughts and feelings I heard throughout the past month.  Many drew symbolism from the difficulties and despair of that original Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion and the joy, hope and relief that came on Sunday once the Savior Jesus Christ rose from the tomb.

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Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, wrote and spoke about this subject in a way that was, for me, transformative. 

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He said, “It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.  I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest… 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 the doom of that day did not endure. The despair did not linger, because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind. And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them… 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 am no different than you.  

“Fridays” have and will come in my life.  Some “Sundays” have come and some I’m still waiting to come.  This week has brought about both days in my life.  Two days ago, the Nygren family had a day of remembrance for my Grandpa Bill Nygren.  It had been exactly 23 years earlier that he left us to be “taken home to that God who gave them life.” (Alma 40:11) That day was truly a Friday. Life seemed shattered and I was broken.  Two days ago was an echo of that day. 

Yet, as I write this at work, my daughter is actively going through labor to bring a baby boy into this world.  They become parents and I become something I have never been…a grandfather.

 

My “Friday” 2 days ago: mourning my grandfather.  My “Sunday” today: becoming one.

 

Life sends us “Fridays”. 

I pray to handle them with understanding and patience.  

 

Life also sends us “Sundays” for which I pray I can be humble and grateful.  

 

Near the end of Elder Wirthlin’s talk he said, “The Resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it. Should it not transform ours?” 

 

That is a question I ponder often.  I hope I’m changing. I’m grateful for Fridays and Sundays, death and sorrow and birth and joy.  I am eternally grateful for a Savior who is a part of it all, who overcame Friday so that you and I can as well and who gave us Sunday so that we may have joy in this life and the life to come.

 

Love,  President “Grandpa” Nygren