There are simple treasured moments that I hold very dear to me. One of those moments is a moment shared with the movie Big Bird in Japan. We all have those seemingly childish things that when we admit their sentimental value, we are almost embarrassed because of the meaning they hold in our hearts.
My dad served a two year mission in Sendai, Japan for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He later returned to teach math for a brief time before coming back to the States. My dad's love for the Japanese people is contagious and as we had several students that either lived with my family or were hosted by my family, it became part of all of my siblings' experience.
I don't remember the first time watching Big Bird in Japan, but I have a very poignant memory that I have new perspective to add to in my life.
In the movie. Big Bird and Barkley spend longer than the five minutes allotted to them to "see everything their is to see in Tokyo" and are left stranded in the city. Big Bird tries to read signs or talk to any of these people from Ohio and sings this song.
"Oh why did I come to this far away place? Why? Oh why? Oh why-o?
Where everyone talks in Japanese, but they say they're from Ohio.
I miss New York where you eat with a fork and English comes in handy.
Gee things were sweet on Sesame Street where the people all understand me.
There's a friendly nest where I love to play
on a friendly street that is far away.
And I want to be there right now. Can't wait for a plane.
Cause I'm homesick, homesick, homesick.
If I ever get well, I'll never leave home again.
There's a teddy bear and he waits for me
There's a friend named Snuffy that I have to see.
Don't have a fever, but I do feel a pain.
Cause I'm homesick, homesick, homesick.
If I ever get well, I'll never leave home again."
Big Bird then meets a girl who shows him around the country, introduces him to her closest friends and takes care to catch them up to their tour in order for them to catch their flight home. As it's time for Big Bird to leave, Big Bird says "I feel terrible. I'm homesick for Japan and I haven't even left yet." He then sings this reprise.
"Pretty paper houses, funny twisted trees
All the little children speaking Japanese.
And a mountain shining through the sun and the rain
Make me homesick, homesick, homesick.
I've got to go home but I will come back again."
I remember turning around to see my dad crying. My dad is not one to hide his emotions and my mom has turned us all into sympathetic criers. One of us asked my dad why he was crying and he just said that he was homesick for Japan. In my memory, whether it happened or I am just remember every other similar event in our family, I then remember the rest of us crying along with him.
My Meaning in the Song:
When we moved to Denver, my brother put a comment on his Facebook page saying the person to post the song that most accurately describes how you are feeling right now would win something. We had been there only a few days or weeks and I posted the first link to his Facebook page. I know I won, but was never declared winner or given said "something". The longest I had been away from home was summer festivals, but those were just really long vacations or trips and I'd always be coming back.
The hardest part about moving to Denver was that John started school, and I taught lessons Thursday nights. That meant I had a great deal of time on my hands. I knew why we were in Denver, but I didn't know why I was in Denver. It's a lot easier to relocate when you have a festival, school or job that puts you in new social settings and gives you some purpose. I was homesick. And the words of this special song rang true as I longed to be near family, in a place where I found many opportunities to perform and had so many wonderful friends and students.
I will never forget the special peace, love and strength I felt during Relief Society Broadcast that September, as I sat with these new found sisters in the chapel and heard the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
"...as an Apostle of our Master, Jesus Christ, I proclaim with all the certainty and conviction of my heart...You are not forgotten.
Sisters, wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you."
I remember some of the sisters who sat on the row with me and can vividly remember us each feeling an individual comprehension of the words being spoken. How beautiful a message. We are not forgotten.
Once again, I find myself in quite similar circumstances. Having spent two months in Utah before coming here, we once again leave family and make our way to our new home. The song has even deeper meaning as we find ourselves out of driving distance and in different time zones making home further out of reach. John began work three days after we found our apartment and moved in. Once again I find myself trying to find my place in this new chapter of our lives and trying to comprehend not only why I am here, but how and when desired blessings will find their way into the timeline of our lives.
My Meaning in the Reprise: As I found myself at the Relief Society Broadcast this past weekend, I sat by myself in the chapel desperately hoping for spiritual renewal. I listened carefully waiting for an answer to my prayer. President Monson was the final speaker of the broadcast and told a story of Tiffany from Denver who in a very desperate time in her life had a prayer answered by a sweet sister who barely knew her. The story concludes as a simple loaf of bread provided her the insight into God's love for her that "She had an urgent need to feel that she wasn't alone, that God was aware of her and had not abandoned her."
A reprise of the feelings I felt in Denver were given as I heard these words. As I heard of this sister in Denver, I thought of how I was also very personally taken care of in Denver. I marvel that my home in Colorado which now I have become homesick for, was once as foreign and intimidating as my situation is here. I now understand my dad's sentiments that he shared with me when I was so young. The hardest part about moving to North Carolina, is leaving my heart in two places instead of one. However, once again I am reminded, that I am not abandoned or forgotten.
Many prayers have been answered as we made our way here and many prayers are still being sent towards our Heavenly Father but He listens and I am reminded of his constant love.
From President Monson:
"My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you, each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God's love is there for you whether or not you deserve love. It is simply always there."
