Unfortunately, the snow and rain McCall received while gone
has made the driveway up to their home difficult to surpass. After several attempts that only got us half way up the hill, Dad felt a burst of energy and decided to walk up the
driveway, get his truck and pull us up the hill. Yet, the driveway conditions were too rough for even his truck to take both vehicles home.
We concluded to leave the car parked down at the neighbors’
home across the street for the night. We
decided the driveway would need to be plowed before the little car could ever
come home. Dad’s little plow is not
strong enough to push the heavy weight of the watered down snow. So we live in hope for the tender mercy of
someone with larger, stronger equipment to come clear our path.
There was a large pile of mail waiting in the mailbox upon
arrival home. Mom jumped right in
opening several cards from friends offering their love and support. I ventured my nosey self over to her and
started reading some.
One letter wrote, “Ron, I wanted to let you know that I have
always thought that you are a truly remarkable person and one of the best role
models I have ever met. Our paths have
crossed several times and you have always been the same wonderful guy that
everyone who knows you loves and admires.
You have always been an inspiration and I have always admired your
energy and your service to others. You
are truly an amazing person and it is my pleasure to count you as one of my
most special friends. Please know that everyone cares for you and that we are
thinking of you. If anyone should ever
ask if I’ve ever know anyone about whom I’ve never heard a bad word, I can
truthfully tell them, “Yes, I have – his name is Ron Dean.”
Then I read another card where each family member on separate
sheets of paper wrote my father a sweet note of gratitude. The main card read “After hearing the news
about Ron’s health, our family thought we would let you know how much we love
you both! Your family has blessed ours
so much as we have always been welcomed at your home, served as neighbors, and
uplifted in every conversation. What
dear spirits you have.”
The notes from the children in the family were as follows:
“I love you!” Love, Grace age 4
“Thank you for everything you’ve done, especially the
sliding hill in the snow! I love you!
From Blake age 6”
“Dear Br. Dean, This is a letter of thanks, I would come and
give it to you personally but living almost 1000 miles away does not make it
possible to be at your acquaintance. I
know of your struggles, and knowing we most – likely will not see each other
for a long time being, I have sent this to show my appreciation. I will forever remember and tell others of
the wonderful things you do: the wonderful and sweet bananas, your funny and
encouraging scout stories, the creative rockets, and my favorite, your sledding
track, one of the most joyful and best things I had experienced in McCall. Love and thanks, Spencer age 10”
“Dear Brother Dean, thank you for your service to my family during
the years we lived in McCall! Your
spirit has been so uplifting in hard times.
Thank you for letting us ride on your sledding hills, and swing on your
swings and ziplines. Thank you for
letting us play in your tree house and have so much fun at your house. You have blessed us in so many ways. Thank you so much for bringing rockets to the
ward’s 4th of July parties. I
will miss that especially here! And most
of all, thank you for your kind heart. I
appreciate all you have done for us.
We love you SO much! Love,
McKenna age 13”
And then one more note that I must share.
“Ron, I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how
grateful I am for you. You have always
been the one to serve someone else, especially, my family. The way you have done this has been such a
great example to me. Every place you go
it is left better than when you got there.
Your love for my kids and all of the youth and scouts is inspiring. I will forever cherish the time I got to
serve alongside you and learn from your experience and example. If I could have half your energy I would be
set. I will always remember the day you
were helping me do tithing and you opened an envelope with a very large check,
You stared at it for a few seconds and then just said, “Dangit, I only asked
him for $25 for Friends of Scouting.” It
made me laugh and also made me realize your love and passion for scouting. I pray the Lord’s choicest blessing for you
and your family. I love you! Joe”
Mother said there are more wonderful notes lying around the
house that hopefully I will come across and read during my time here in McCall. However, those few notes have warmed my soul
with gratitude and love for my father who has during his lifetime made a
positive impact on everyone he comes in contact with. Being out of the home, married with my own
family for so many years, it has been a treasure to be reminded of just how
kind, generous and amazing my parents are.
I would venture to say that as a child and youth I took advantage of
that and was blind to the amount of service my parents provided for me and others.
We sit stuck in this warm home unable to venture out due to
the unpassable driveway. I asked my parents if
there is someone I could call that could come help plow the driveway to free us. My parents both reply with “I would hate to ask for help when our friends have done so much for us already.”
My thoughts turn back to these wonderful messages of
appreciate and love from friends and neighbors.
And I tell mother, “mom, there comes a time in our lives when we become
unable to do things for ourselves that we once could. I know it’s frustrating and hard to
accept. But, it does happen with our
mortal bodies that grow old and wear out.
Think about all these people who upon hearing about dad’s failing body feel
inspired to share how much he has served and loved them. You have spent your entire life serving and
doing for others what they were unable to do for themselves, isn't it time to
learn how to receive some of that service back.”
I remember the
scripture in Alma 41:14
“Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your
brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do
all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy
restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye
shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good
rewarded unto you again.”
The service, love, mercy, kindness and forgiveness that we
grant unto others will be restored unto us.
I am a witness of that coming true in the life of my parents.
