You and your missionary have waited years for this day to arrive. Finally, it is here! The day your missionary boards an airplane destined for the mission field. But, now what?
As a parent, how can you be most supportive of your missionary as he or she serves? How can you offer the right amount of support as your missionary returns home? These are the questions which motivated the author, Randy Bott, to compile advice resulting from his own experience and the accounts of many other parents and missionaries.
From ch 21 - When a Noble One Falters: “When our pain and anguish become so great, it is easy to lose the proper eternal perspective. Recall a premortal past in which your son or daughter had proven faithful and true. Hearts do soften over time, lives change, conversion takes place - sometimes late in life - and covenants neglected for decades can be made. If we constantly petition for Divine guidance and are willing to do whatsoever the Lord inspires us, we may yet be the instrument the Lord uses to being back these precious souls. D&C 121:41-42 Richard G. Scott Apr 1988 Gen Conf “I will suggest seven ways you can help. 1 love without limitations, 2 do not condone the transgressions but extend every hope and support to the transgressor, 3 teach truth, 4 honestly forgive as often as required, 5 pray trustingly, 6 keep perspective - when you have done all that you can reasonably do rest the burden in the hands of the Lord, 7 never give up on a loved one, never!” Remembering they are His children and that they have been born only physically through us helps keep our challenges in a more correct perspective. Someday we will see Divine purpose for all of these tests and be perfectly content. 2 Ne 26:24