The Land of Counterpane
by Robert Louis Stevenson
by Robert Louis Stevenson
When I was sick and
lay a-bed,
I had two pillows at my head, And all my toys beside me lay, To keep me happy all the day. And sometimes for an hour or so I watched my leaden soldiers go, With different uniforms and drills, Among the bed-clothes, through the hills; And sometimes sent my ships in fleets All up and down among the sheets; Or brought my trees and houses out, And planted cities all about. I was the giant great and still That sits upon the pillow-hill, And sees before him, dale and plain, The pleasant land of counterpane. |
I love this poem by Robert Louis
Stevenson describing a little boy, sick playing with his toy soldiers on
the quilt of his bed.(counterpane) I always think that the rolling green hills
of England look like a patchwork quilt. This past month we had a wonderful time
as we returned to England and the beautiful rolling farmland of Wiltshire and
Somerset counties. Each day as we drove through the ‘counterpane’ through the September sunshine, I felt like the little boy in the poem.
Many of you shared this holiday
with us as we posted our daily travels. So many beautiful places to see and
visit. We even got to travel up to The North. Neither of us has been in that
part of this Island Country before. There are more open spaces and larger patches of many shades of green in the landscape 'quilt'.
When we left Bristol in 2015 we
promised we would come back. It took us a while but we made it! The joy in
returning was found not only in lovely places again but in renewing
friendships that for us are eternal! I cannot even describe the delight of
seeing the people whose acquaintances’ have added so much to our lives.
Missionaries come and missionaries go. It happens with regularity. We were
temporary guests filling an assignment as a YSA missionary couple. When the
time of our service was up, we went home. We replaced someone, someone else
replaced us. In my heart I felt that the impact of this experience was mostly
ours alone, tucked down in our hearts as life changing for Bill and me.
One of the first days back we
drove over to our neighborhood to No. 4 Julian ct. I am not sure I can describe
how I felt. The feeling was powerful, not one of homesickness but mostly one of
profound gratitude for all that took place on that street in that flat for 18
months of my life. It really can’t be described. The friendships, life’s
lessons, testimony building moments, even heart wrenching moments I experienced
there have changed me forever!
Spending time with so many dear
friends who were a part of our every waking and breathing moment during our mission, brought even greater joy. They are still there! They are still like
family to us! They are ours forever! I can’t even describe my feelings of
gratitude for every one! Three very special young women who were taught and
embraced the gospel in our flat. Many many young single adult men and women who
accepted us unconditionally. They still mean so much. What a joy to see their lives
go forward. They still love us and trust us and accept us!!!
I feel like I have just an
inkling of what is described in D&C 18:
15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying
repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great
shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have
brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how
great will be your joy if you should bring
many souls unto
me!
And in D&C 78: 19:
“And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall
be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an
hundred fold, yea, more.”7
Thank you beautiful
people of the Bristol Stake! Thanks be to Heavenly Father for the
experiences that have been ours and for enriching relationships that will last
forever! Love you all!!!
