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I have total respect and compassion for you because you have been called upon to suffer this particular trial, and anyone who
says it’s easy has never been there.
As you may know, two of my brothers are deaf. While I recognize that the problems which confront you and your daughter are more
extreme than deafness, still, that particular handicap has proven to be a great trial and a blessing to me and to all of our extended family.
As you have read in the scriptures, there is the incident where Christ heals a blind man, and the apostles ask Him, "Lord, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" And the Savior answered, "Neither this man nor his parents, but that the mysteries of
God might be made manifest through him."
The mysteries of God are unique and various, but I am confident that this is true: He knows you. He knows you perfectly well.
He has known you for aeons of time. For some reason, you have been chosen by our loving Heavenly Father to be the mother to this
special child whom God also loves very much, and who, because of her own disability, will be assured a place in the highest degree of
His celestial glory. I am confident of that without reservation.
In the meantime, what about you and the trial that this is? Consider these things in light of the scripture that I just quoted above. "No
pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience,
faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer, and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our character,
purifies our heart, expands our soul, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God."
I promise you that what my parents have learned, having raised two deaf children, will also be your blessing, and out of the
difficulty of your life will come the best things.
I presume that you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If that’s true, you probably have not read the
modern-day scripture which we hold so dear, along with the direction given us by Biblical scripture. From these modern-day scriptures
comes another thought that may be of some value to you: "Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes for the present time, the design of
your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation, for after much
tribulation come the blessings; wherefore, the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory. The hour is not yet, but is nigh at
hand" (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 58:3-4). In another place, we find the following: "My son, peace be unto thy soul. Thine
adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment, and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high. Thou shalt
triumph over all thy foes, and... if thou art called to pass through tribulation, if thou art in perils among false brethren,…if thou art
imperiled by land or sea, if thou shouldst be cast into the pit or into the hands of murderers….know thou, my son, that all these things
shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good."
I have a friend who said some very helpful and timely things regarding the trials we are called upon to suffer: "Certain forms of suffering,
endured well, can actually be ennobling. Those who have suffered much are like those who know many languages. They have learned to
understand and be understood by all. Here on this earth, many parents love and care but experience unreciprocated love. This is part of
coming to know, on our small scale, what Jesus experienced. Part of enduring well consists of being meek enough amid our suffering to
learn from our relevant experiences. Rather than simply passing through these things, they must pass through us, and do so in ways
which sanctify these experiences for our good; thereby, our empathy, too, is enriched and everlasting."
It is my opinion that the Lord loves your daughter so much that He carefully placed her in your protective care, knowing that
you have the capacity to provide her with the sustaining, loving protection and help which she needs. By so doing, you serve as an
example to all of the rest of us, many of whom are very weak and need the example of a strong one such as you. This is what Christ
meant when He said, "…so that the mysteries of God might be made manifest through him." Consequently, I think that if you will
remain faithful and will always seek God’s guidance, help, and direction, particularly in times when you feel weak, helpless, and
overwhelmed, you will feel His sustaining influence in your life. He has great things in store for you, for your daughter, for all of the
other members of your family, and for all those of us who will ever come into contact with you. By your strength and faithfulness,
others who will need the example and courage of an individual such as you will be lifted and benefited.
I wish I could take more time with this, but I would like to offer something that may be of infinitely more value than my
opinion. That is an opportunity to learn what it is we believe and why, and why our faith gives the perspective you have just read. I
would like to ask a couple of representatives of our church to call on you to explain about all of that. You could determine for yourself
whether it’s worth pursuing, but I’d like you to know why we have such faith and understanding. If it would be helpful for you to have
such a meeting, I’d be grateful if you’ll write me back and give me your address and telephone number so I can direct them to you.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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