I Admire Allan.

So there’s this guy that I want to introduce you to; his name is Allan.

He’s the typical blonde hair, blue eyed, piercing yet capturing voice, all-American guy and he’s a member of my church. He’s a funny and an outgoing guy even though he’s very shy but once you get to know him, he’s not quiet. He did his mission in Europe, he knows how to speak German and French and he knows American Sign Language so sometimes you’ll see him translate our sacrament meetings in ASL.

Why am I talking about Allan? Because I recently found out something that makes me admire him even more.

What is that you ask? Well I found out that his mother, father and sister are deaf.

He is the only one that can hear and speak despite the fact that his mother, father and sister are deaf. He doesn’t talk about his family much but ever since I found that out, my admiration for him went to another level.

A lot of people take voices, speaking and talking for granted and there are some that wish some people would “stop talking” but I can’t imagine not being able to hear or speak and communicate with others. What more with having deaf parents? I can’t imagine not hearing my father or mother talk to me and it would pain me even more that my parents can’t hear me.

It’s little things like this that make me feel more grateful for what I have and to spread charity to those around me because there are so many things we overlook and to know someone who has been going through this all his life really touches me. It makes me admire them even more because of their patience, strength and endurance.