A few weeks ago, our entire family (yep, all eight of us) climbed into our van. It took a while for all of us to climb in because a) we’re a big family and b) the sliding door is broken which means all of us had to climb in using only the front passenger’s side door. At the time, the van seemed way too squishy, and we couldn’t get out and away from each other fast enough. We really wanted more space.
Once again today, all eight of us climbed inside the van, using only the front doors. We all sat in the same seats, but things didn’t seem so squishy. In fact, I was dreading the moment when there would be more room. The moment when Matt would step out of the car, put on his name tag, and leave us behind for the next two years.
Two years seems far too long to go without hearing another “Matt Gregory Original” on the guitar, or receiving a random text telling me the latest joke, or to hearing Matt’s contagious laugh and seeing his beaming smile. So much can happen in two short years, and I know there will be some special moments when I’ll long for Elder Gregory to be here. But then I remember that our family is forever, and we are forever because missionaries found us, many, many, years ago. And when I think about Matt being that missionary, bringing more families together for eternity, two years doesn’t seem long at all.