Tangled

A post or two back I mentioned watching Tangled with Mr. E on Ethne's birthday.  I also mentioned that the end of the movie hit me in a way it hadn't before.

After Ethne passed I tried to avoid certain triggers, including certain movies she loved.  We didn't watch "Despicable Me" for about 8 months after the accident.  I still haven't watched "The Little Mermaid," and it wasn't until a few weeks ago when Mr. E came to me with it in hand did I really sit down and watch "Tangled."  Mostly I sat and snuggled Mr. E while he watched and I distracted myself with games on my phone, Facebook, and other things.  But I really watched it on Ethne's birthday.  We sang along with the songs, we laughed, and I cried.

In the beginning of the story Rapunzel is taken by an old witch who keeps her true identity secret.  When she is taken she is an infant with lots of blonde hair.  Through a series of tests and adventures Rapunzel learns who she really is and finally returns to the anxious arms of her loving parents.  She no longer looks the same as she did when she was a baby.  In the end she has short, brown hair, and is a young woman-- but despite her changed looks, her mother is able to recognize her and embraces her, grateful to have her daughter back in her arms.

Now I am not, in any way, suggesting that I think Ethne has been taken from me in a malicious way, but she is gone from my sight, for a time.  The scriptures and prophets teach that our spirits take the form of our adult selves, only perfected (no scars or flaws, Ether 3:16 and Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 131–32).  Watching the end of Tangled had me wondering if I will recognize Ethne when I see her again.  Despite suggestions that the Millennium could happen in my life time, I am of the impression that I will pass away before then.  This means that the next time I see Ethne she will be in her spirit form and will therefore be an adult and not the little girl I said goodbye to two and a half years ago.  It made me very sad to think that I might not recognize her.

I thought about it all day on her birthday.  We were so busy serving, loving, and celebrating that I didn't get a chance to talk to Lawrence about it until late that night.  He reminded me what President Ezra Taft Benson said, "Nothing will surprise us more than when we get to heaven and see the Father and realize how well we know Him and how familiar His face is to us.”  Lawrence then told me that he believes it will be the same way with Ethne.

I sure hope so.

I hope that there will be no question for me the next time I see Ethne.  I hope that I will recognize her beautiful smile and be able to embrace her the way Rapunzel's parents do her.  But I do know, that either way, I will be so very grateful to have my Princess in my arms again.