Angels Among Us

Unfortunately sometimes it takes scheduling it on the calendar to make it happen (which is what we did since its 'Family Month'), but we finally went to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Baird last night. We do have lots of big family get togethers, so its not like we don't see them, but its wonderful to have a more personal visit. These two people are really indescribable! They are amazing! I'm not just saying that because they are my grandparents... okay, that might be part of it, but only because I get to see into their lives a little more than others may. And because they love me so much, each of us grandchildren must feel like we are their favorite!

As we sat and visited, I couldn't help but be amazed. Grandma told us stories of the recent people she'd met while at ShopKo. There was a young man she gave money and a poem to as wedding present... I heard another story of Grandma going up to a woman smoking, putting her arm around her, telling her how beautiful she was, and then how her (Grandma's) father used to smoke and how hard it was. She told this women she could be doing so much more or so much better. The woman cried knowing Grandma was right.

Grandpa told us how they volunteer to take the MTC missionaries on errands, such as to the doctor. Recently he took an elder to the doctors, and while there a prisoner was wheeled in with jail clothes, handcuffs, and all. Grandpa asked this prisoner wouldn't he rather be wearing a uniform like he and this elder had on! The prisoner said yes. Grandpa talked to him for a while and asked if he could do anything for him. This young man asked Grandpa to put his name in the temple. Later, Grandpa and Grandma looked him up and went and visited him in jail! The young man asked Grandpa if he could do one more thing for him, "Write me a letter."

These are simplified stories without all the details and I hope Grandma and Grandpa don't mind me sharing them. The thing is, there are literally thousands of stories like this! These are not rare occurrences or events, this is how they live their lives. They reach out and touch people everyday. And they can tell people things in a way no one else can. They do it with such love. They really are angels among us that have touched the lives of numerous people, including me!