Hymnbook Distributor

Hymnbook Distributor --

One of our fondest & funniest [memory] is during Primary when he decided to“re-arrange” the hymn books in the choir section during Opening Exercises. We never knew the hymn books could flyl!

(Debbie Burton - friend)

        A few weeks ago while I was at church I was asked to put hymnbooks on chairs.  As I walked over to the bookcase on the wall, I looked reverently at these beautiful green books and started stacking them in my arms, I smiled in joy at the sweet memories of my handsome boy and the purpose and joy they brought into his life. 

           Joshua took it upon himself to become the hymnbook distributor at church.  Once Joshua discovered this fun task, there was nothing stopping him.  He quickly realized the task at hand when he heard the organ begin to play.   There was no doubt that Joshua truly felt joy and accomplishment at giving out so many hymnbooks!  He absolutely loved to walk over to the wooden hymnbook case, take out a hymnbook and find just the right person to give it to.  It didn’t matter if a person had a hymnbook or not; if Joshua wanted to give them one, people learned to take one anyway.  At times Joshua would finish handing out hymnbooks before the hymn was finished.  It didn’t take long for him to lose his patience, and decide that it was now time to collect the hymnbooks.  I have to say it was a little entertaining to watch people’s  reactions at this tall, skinny young man in the yellow helmet, sauntering over to them, and taking back the very hymnbook he had just given them.  After all, they were still singing the hymn!  But Joshua could not be convinced not to collect the books back once he had decided it was time to do so.  Even today, as I sit in church and sing they hymns, many times I am overcome with emotions and choke back tears thinking about my sweet son distributing hymnbooks amongst the congregation, and wishing so much, that he could take my hymnbook away from me.

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             One of the best things that Joshua did at church was to make every person feel welcome.  He taught me to be more outgoing, to search for the person who was new or may feel alone, and to talk to as many people as you could.  I was particularly proud of Joshua one day when he his attention was drawn to a gentleman sitting alone toward the back of the congregation.  True to form, Joshua picked up a nearby hymnbook and marched it right over to the gentleman and handed it to him.  Joshua grinned, as he felt accomplishment in his latest task.  But then Joshua picked up another hymnbook, and sauntered over to the same man and handed him a second hymnbook.  The man looked a little confused, but he took the hymnbook.  During the course of the meeting, Joshua continued to find hymnbooks, and bring them over to this same man, and sometimes Joshua would even sit next to him for a few seconds or minutes, with his cute little grin, his legs moving back and forth, his fun greetings of handshakes or tugs on the arm.  At one point as Joshua handed the man yet another hymnbook, he looked at me and asked what he should do.  I asked if he would keep taking the hymnbooks because Joshua wouldn’t understand if he didn’t take them.  The man was a good sport, and went along with Joshua’s enthusiastic and fun game throughout the meeting.  At the end of the meeting, this man had 30 hymnbooks -- three stacks of approximately  ten hymnbooks each that Joshua had given him!  I had fun chatting with the gentleman after the meeting and introducing Joshua.  As I thought about it later, I realized the very important and crucial lesson that Joshua had taught me that day.  Each person that we meet, or that is new or alone, needs to be acknowledged, needed and loved.  Joshua, in his innocent and childish mind, still somehow knew that the most important thing he could do in church that day was to make someone feel so important, and so welcome.  He was and always will be my example.