One of Ezra's past teachers, Tyler, shared some thoughts about Ezra. Tyler was Ezra and Milo's primary teacher (like sunday school) a few years back. He and his wife Stacy taught the boys in their primary class for two years and have remained close friends with our family. Tyler's remarks were beautiful and when I asked if I could share them on the blog he consented. So here they are...
"We would be remiss not to acknowledge that the primary program today proceeds without an incredibly important member. Ezra Sherman and the Sherman Family have been long time members of this ward - he and his siblings have grown up through our nursery and primary, and his parents have been constants here for the last 17 years. Ezra was an irreplaceable part of our primary and for many years blessed us with his incredible goodwill, tender spirit, and exuberance for life. As everyone knows, earlier this year he returned to our Heavenly Father , and this is the first time in many years that he is not a part of today's program.
It would be impossible to capture what he meant to all of us in a few short words, but we wanted to in some way honor his memory. I think the best way to do this is to recognize that he lives on. He lives on in his brother, in his sister, in his parents, and in all of us who were lucky enough to have been touched by his life. He also lives on in the things he loved and the passions he enjoyed in life.
One such passion was the Beatles. Ezra was a big fan - we had that in common - and when I hear the Beatles, I always think of him. There is a moment in the album Abbey Road that for me captures the emotions one experiences in difficult times. At the end of the song, "She's So Heavy," there are several minutes of swirling, disorienting noise. This noise starts in the background, but slowly builds, much in the way that you might picture a gathering storm. At the point when this musical storm feels as if it has reached it's peak, it instantaneously cuts off and immediately cuts off and immediately proceeds into the next song - the melodic and uplifting tune, "Here Comes the Sun," with George Harrison singing that reassuring refrain, "here comes the sun, it's alright."
In the scriptures, the sun is symbolic of numerous things and in many instances it represents Christ. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88:7 reads: "Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun and the light of the sun, and the power thereof, by which it was made." During our stormiest times, it is Him that emerges through the clouds and warms us with His glory, reminding us that through His saving power, "it's alright." As the living Savior of all, He assures us that our time on earth is not the end, but merely the beginning. In the words of the oft quoted scripture, in the book of John, "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:15)
Through His triumphant resurrection, He makes it possible for us to live again in the presence of the Father. It is through our belief and testimony of Christ, that we can look forward to seeing our friend Ezra again someday."
So thank you Tyler, for your thoughtful words, they were greatly appreciated and sweet to our ears. Although I wish nothing more than to have Ezra in my arms and at my side - right now, I know that he is alright. I know that I will see him again and that he will always be my boy. I have faith that we will be reunited when this life on earth is over and I look forward to that day. That is what I believe. Even in my pain and deep sorrow of missing Ezra, I still have faith in these things. And it is this faith that keeps me going each day.
Photos shown: top - Ezra, of course, age 8. Below - Tyler and Stacy with Milo, age 9 (yellow, a wickersham brother), Luka, age 10 - (Yertyl the Turtle), and Ezra, age 9 - (Mayor of Whoville). Performing in Broadway Bound's production of Seussical the Musical at the ACT Theater in Seattle.
