My Year In Review 2001

As the first year of the new millennium comes to a close, I find myself once again taking a look back at the year that is coming to an end – and if I may be allowed to exercise a point of personal privilege once more, I am choosing to renew what has become an annual tradition as I go into what will be an even better Christmas than I had last year, which had been my best in many years.

What makes this one even better is that this one will be spent with my youngest – more important, he will also get to spend part of the day with his mother (as he should) and her parents as well. After all, Christmas is more for kids than it is for grown-ups – although we adults get to have a lot of fun as well.

Tim’s youngest son at age 5

The year began as I celebrated with my youngest son (pictured, right) his birthday as he turned five years old. In addition to the gifts and the ice cream and cake that go with birthday parties, it was a fun day for me as well as I saw so much of myself in him at that age. Seeing the wonder of the world through his eyes has been a blessing beyond measure in the lives of both of us, and for that I am truly grateful.

Shortly after my birthday in May, I had the opportunity – on very short notice – to go out to Utah and visit family and friends. I saw my daughter shortly before her graduation from high school, and got to see my best friend and her family. With my daughter’s schedule such as it was, my time with her was limited as she was getting ready for graduation and that was taking up all of her time. Having graduated from high school myself 25 years ago, I remember what that time was like myself, so I could empathize with her schedule. With all the frustrations that had been going on in my life out here, the trip out there was indeed a welcome respite. The time spent with my best friend LuAnn was like a breath of fresh air in every imaginable sense of the word.

Tim and LuAnn

Allow me to explain. LuAnn (pictured with me, left) and I have known each other for nearly 30 years, having met in our first week of high school. We sat next to each other in 1st period English class, and being the naturally outgoing and friendly kind of personality that I am – we became friends rather quickly.

Have you ever come across someone you click with immediately? Someone you can instinctively and completely trust with your deepest and most precious secrets? One with whom you would trust your life and whom you know would willingly trust you with yours? LuAnn is that kind of person, and she is and has been the one person who has been by far my most loyal and trusted friend throughout my lifetime. There are others who I trust as well; her brother Bryan who I have also known for 28 years, my friend Randall who I have known for over 20 as well my friend Carolyn who I have known for 23, but the only one in whom I have placed complete and absolute trust is LuAnn.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever used the term in any of my columns, but I have used it in some of my speaking assignments over the years, but the best term I can use to describe a person like LuAnn is a Star of the First Magnitude. How would one define such? I guess I would best define it this way:

A Star of the First Magnitude is one who brings out the very best in you in ways you never knew possible – who by their mere presence inspires the best and finest in you. “Company Manners” are automatic in their presence; you don’t think about it – you just go on autopilot and you do it. Their mere presence raises both of you to new heights neither of you knew possible and the both of you are all the richer for your association and friendship with each other.

Ezra Taft Benson

Perhaps it was best put by Ezra Taft Benson (right) – 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who in April 1988, had this to say: “In her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?” While President Benson may have been referring to dating and courtship in that specific address, the same applies to friendship as well – for are not successful relationships of any kind based on mutual respect, friendship and trust? If any one statement epitomizes the description of what constitutes a Star of the First Magnitude, that one would have to be it.

So as I go into this Christmas season with my youngest son nearby and my oldest son and daughter in my thoughts and prayers as they are out West with work and school, I am indeed truly thankful for a year well spent.

I am also indeed thankful to God for the blessings of this season, particularly for the birth of the Christ Child and for the blessings of this season and the occasion it provides us to reflect on His message of Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men.

And so in closing, as I prepare to celebrate the occasion of the birth of the Christ Child with my youngest, I would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukah or a Good Kwanzaa. And like I said last year, may the joy that this time of year brings carry into the New Year, and may each day bring you joy as you bring it into the lives of others.

See you next year.

Timothy Rollins

• Photo of T.J. Rollins courtesy of family files and used with permission
• Photo of LuAnn and the author courtesy of personal files and used with permission
• Photo of Ezra Taft Benson courtesy of Brigham Young University Department of Religious Education
• With files from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Copyright © 2001 by Timothy Rollins.
All Rights Reserved.

-Published with permission