There is no Hyberbole, She is My Hero - Day 8

Imagine being a widow at age 25. Now imagine being a widow because your husband decided to take his own life with a gunshot to the head while you were upstairs. Imagine holding your dear husband in your arms and calling 9-1-1 with the realization that he is probably already gone. This would be an unimaginably heart-breaking experience wouldn't it? And yet, my beautiful friend Krystal experienced exactly what I just had you imagine.

Krystal is hands down THE most resilient person I know. A couple years after burying her sister, she went through this and even though I think it'd be undeniably easy to "throw in the towel" per say, she keeps on trekking in faith. I try not to hyperbolize the hero's in my life because they are real people; however, Krystal and a heroic hyperbole could never by synonymous. She is, to me, the definition of courage, hope, and endurance. She is the epitome of strength. When I find myself complaining, I think of her and her determination to make her life in accordance to God's will, and her ability to do so with class. She is a genuine example of relying on the Lord in faith, this doesn't mean she doesn't have moments of doubt or sadness, it means that she never gives up. She still gets out of bed on Sundays to fulfill her calling; she bears testimony of her unique knowledge of the gospel and her understanding of gratitude. She continues to believe in God, which is nothing short of incredible.

Krystal is my hero, but I want to make sure I write that her heroism doesn't just come from her resiliency from tragedy. It comes from her ability to be selfless and compassionate. During the times I struggled in Junior High and High School, she reached out to me and befriended me. Krystal, since then, has always been a dear friend and an example to me.

Krystal constantly puts the focus on others rather than herself and she does so in a very empathetically genuine way. One of many examples of this was when my husband was going to school during the day and working during the night. Of course, this was a few months after Krystal lost her husband and she said to me, "Wow, that would be hard not to be able to see your husband all day."  I thought to myself, "Wow, she's incredible to empathesize with that given she doesn't get to see her husband at all." Something also amazing was when I was pregnant, Krystal came to visit me with a basket of baby stuff. She was happy for me. I think this shows the amazing giving and self-less nature of her character. Which by the way reminds me of a quote that fits Krystal's character perfectly: “Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Thus, character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural and instinctive response is to be self-absorbed and turn inward.” (David A. Bednar, “The Character of Christ,” BYU-Idaho Religion Symposium)

Krystal is one of those people I could go on and on about because I love her so dearly and her friendship means so much to me. I hope she knows the impact she has had on my life. I have a feeling her inspiration has been delivered to hundreds of other people, and I'm sure hundreds more will be positively affected and inspired by knowing this amazing woman.

Krystal, I love you! Thank you for being such a dear friend.