Sunday Sentiments - Precious Cargo

Back in August I wrote a little bit about what a blessing it is to have other people love and serve my children. This has been on my mind again this week as I have been thinking about some of the things Nicky is experiencing on his mission (he's gone through a bit of a rough patch which began the day after I posted this update, which means I probably caused it somehow). 

When we were getting Nicky ready to leave for Puerto Rico, we stopped at the Distribution Center to get him some temple shoes so he could serve as a temple worker for a little while. One of the employees was asking about his mission, and she told me that when her children served missions, she had to adopt the mentality that they were in the hands of the mission president (and Heavenly Father), and everything would be okay. That’s a bit of an overwhelming task for a mission president to be responsible for so many young people (in addition to everything else they have to worry about), but there’s some truth to it. There is a person (with various helpers) who presides over a mission and looks out for the missionaries. That brings me some peace. But not full peace because, again, there is so much a mission president has to do! 

Just a few days ago I was telling my friend that I’m worried that Nicky is not being nurtured, and how I hope there is someone out there supporting him and fostering his development and saying, “There, there! You are loved, and you are wonderful!” Perhaps a senior missionary (though I’ve never heard of Nicky interacting with any senior missionaries, and I’m not even sure they exist) or a little abuela. 

Today our Relief Society lesson is on Elder Stevenson’s talk, “Lost Luggage, Redeemed Souls.” In the address, Elder Stevenson discusses the rate of lost luggage in airports (33 million bags were mishandled in 2024). Yet, in the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, not a single piece of luggage has been lost in 30 years. “When you hand off your luggage at the Kansai Airport, you get a sense that they are saying to you, ‘We have your precious belongings. We are responsible for them now. We will return them to you.’” 

Right now I definitely feel like I have sent precious belongings out into the world - my son! My highest valued cargo. “The feeling is recognizable: entrusting what is precious into the care of others - and longing for its safe return… years of teaching, preparation, and prayer culminate in a moment of placing [your] cherished possession into the care of others - trusting conscientious stewards to care for [your] son or daughter through the duration of their journey until [you] are reunited.”

Precious Cargo

Elder Stevenson encourages us to be “thoughtful and intentional handlers of His precious cargo,” referring to our responsibility to love, care for, and serve one another. As a mother, I plead for the help of others in ministering to my children. Our loving Father has the same request of us for His children. This week I am reminded that, as I pray for people to care for my precious cargo, I need to do the same for those around me. Even when it’s one-sided. Even when it’s not reciprocated. Even when it’s not appreciated.

“Beloved and blessed are those who care for and nurture others.”