Grateful

Yesterday I attended the farewell of my dear friend, B. He's one of the last in a long list of our good friends to leave on his mission. As I sat on the bench in his chapel, surrounded by the other friends that have been left behind by those going to serve, it struck me just how amazing those boys are. I've always known that I had been particularly blessed with the young men that I associated with in high school, but it wasn't until I was no longer with them all day everyday that I realized just how blessed. One of those "you don't know what you've got until it's gone" type things.

These boys, who are now serving all around the world, are truly unique. Each of them has their own special attributes that make them who they are. But they all have a few things in common.

They are the boys who open doors for you without even thinking.
They are the boys who give up their chair for you when all the others are full.
They are the boys who will drop every thing to come get you when you're stranded.
They are the boys who put on a shirt and tie every Sunday, even when they don't want to get out of bed.
They are the boys who turn off the questionable movie.
They are the boys who always have a hug ready.
They are the boys that will just sit on the curb and prattle about nothing to distract you from the pain.
They are the boys who mothers should want their daughters to marry.
They are the boys that will one day change the world.

I am grateful to have known all of these boys who strive to be the very best they can be. They have changed me. And I can't wait to see where their goodness and service gets them in this world.