She loves Del and has for over 4 years. After Del was released as Bishop, he and I were both called into the Nursery where Del served for 8 months before he was called into the Elders Quorum Presidency. I served for another 2 years + after that.
When Lydia first came into nursery, she was a mess. Sobbed - clinging to her parents for dear life and wouldn't stay longer than a few seconds. Del and I would usually be with other babies needing special love also and not able to settle them quick enough to give Lydia the love she needed. So she would leave with her parents and we would try again the next week.
About a month into this routine, I noticed Lydia had a special eye for Del and seemed to search for him every time she came to class. Finally, one Sunday, Del was available to take Lydia in his arms when she came to class. From there, it unfolded into a beautiful and tender relationship. Yes, she cried at first, but within minutes, Del was able to calm her - she would sit with him almost the whole time, but would get down to ONLY play ball with him. Then back to being held. This went on the full 8 months Del was in Nursery. When he left Nursery, she moved up into Primary.
It's been over the past few months that she has once again, remembered how she feels about him. For weeks now, she has found him either before or after Sacrament meeting, wanting to give him a hug before she skips off to Primary. When trying to tell her mom or dad who she wanted to go see, she would describe him as 'you know, the man with the hair on the side of his head' - meaning no hair on top. Hee hee - he got a real kick out of that.
Two weeks ago, she spotted him during Sacrament meeting. I watched as she hopped up off her pew and just made her way across the aisle and up into Del's lap. Her parents didn't even notice her gone until I caught their eye and motioned to Del. They smiled. I smiled. Del was already smiling.
Lydia fell asleep for just a short 10 minutes as Del held her. My mind slipped back to 4 years earlier, remembering the many Sunday's that he held her just like that, calming her fears and enveloping her in love. She felt safe with him. She felt loved by him. She felt him.
That's Del and Lydia - that's Del and a lot of people.
He makes them feel safe - loved -
Including me.
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