Tender Mercy...

Over the years as I have engaged in family history work, I've found that any effort on my part has been rewarded ten fold. Even in the beginning when my attempts to identify ancestors were feeble at best, undeniable and obvious blessings came. So, as we set in motion the plans for a Lindberg Family Reunion, I wondered in what form the blessings would come. These blessings in regard to family history are something I've come to anticipate, expect, and appreciate. It didn't take long to identify a few of those blessings.

With the onset of a large family get-together of this kind, there are, of course, the obvious blessings of reconnecting with extended family members and collecting and distributing family information. Blessings such as these have already been realized. Cousins have been "found." Photos and personal histories are being collected, and more than 30 family names have been made available for family members to take to the temple. These are obvious and precious blessings.

In addition a few "tender mercies" have surfaced. These subtly arrive and give affirmation and understanding of the important work that is involved when "one's heart is turned." In the past these "tender mercies" have happened with enough regularity for me to come to expect the unexpected.

The following is just such an experience. My sister, Nancy Lindberg Criddle (Ralph's daughter), shared this experience with our family last weekend. I think you will enjoy her story and see evidence of a tender mercy extended, not only to a grieving father, but to our family as well as we make plans for our Lindberg Family Reunion.

- Suzanne Lindberg Smith

In Nancy's words:
February 6, 2010

Today Dean and I attended the funeral of my friend Tony Peers. She was exactly my age and died of pancreatic cancer a week ago, a few short weeks after her diagnosis. It was a remarkable funeral. There must have been 600 people there from the church and community.

After the funeral we were talking with Tony's father, Joe Gillespie, who lives in Green Valley, California. In the course of the conversation he mentioned being from Tooele! I remember meeting Gillespies in the Lindberg family department store, The Tooele Merc., every time I would visit as a child.

When I told Joe Gillespie that I was a "Lindberg" -- Ralph's daughter -- his eyes got huge and he grabbed my hand. He was my father's good friend. They were the same age and went through school together. They even played football together. Later in life he got together with Dad in California, inviting him to Green Valley to play golf with him. He became very emotional and hugged me.

He knew Dad had passed away. He wanted to know all about the aunts and uncles. He asked if I sang. "Yes," I said. To which he responded, "Well, now I know you are a Lindberg! Oh, my, how those Lindberg girls could sing!!! They entertained us at all the functions!"

Then we talked about the Tooele Merc. "Best run store in town!" he said. He loved the Tooele Merc., as I did.

Then he got teary and said, "This has been a tender mercy for me, to meet Ralph's daughter at my daughter's funeral."

It was a sweet conversation. I wish Tony and I had been able to talk about this and know that we were connected in this special way. Actually, knowing Tony's love and warm spirit, I think she orchestrated this.

- Nancy Lindberg Criddle

Information about the photos used in this post...
Top photo: "Tooele Mercantile Company, 1925"; Individuals in photo L to R: unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Mark Lindberg, John A. Lindberg
Bottom photo: "The Lindberg Girls, 1931"; L to R: Edith, Esther, Hilda, Elna & June