Paul McCulloch passed away this morning at the Clear Creek Care Center. He will be missed, and his example will be remembered. I wanted to take this time to talk about Paul and about the plan of God. Paul was mentally handicapped for most of his life, suffering from crippling physical deformities and blocked by slow to no mental development. When doctors told my mom this would alter his growth and life they estimated he would not live past the age of 12. Well, eat it doctors, he doubled that and then some! I learned a great deal from my twin brother. He taught me how to be patient, and serve selflessly. As kids we always knew that dinner wasn’t served until Paul had eaten. You see mom would make the food, then take some and blend it up for Paul and feed him, even though sometimes he didn’t want it. Then after she felt he was full she served the rest of us dinner at the table. I will never forget that precious sight and hard work of my mom as she provided care and nourishment for her family day after day.
Paul wasn’t able to recognize many things in this world. But he always knew when mom was around. The only times I remember Paul smiling was when Mom was talking to him. I used to sit and watch Paul and wonder what he was thinking, or if. I believe he knew more than we thought, I know he learned to recognize his mother, and who knows what else.
It is important we come to learn of our parents, earthly and heavenly, learn what they want from us. Our Heavenly Father has prepared a plan for us. That plan included leaving His presence, receiving a body, learning to make decisions with our agency based on eternal law, learning to act on faith, and leaving this mortal body to await the resurrection. I know that Paul’s spirit will be reunited with his physical body, but it will be a perfected body. And together we will rejoice in the atonement that Jesus Christ made for us. I know that Christ was resurrected and because He was, we all will. I am grateful to God for His plan and for Jesus Christ. I know that Paul is now in His service and more comfortable than he ever was while on earth. Love ya Paul, and I’ll miss ya till we meet again.
