TO ABSOLVE

To “absolve”: to set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility.

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It has been seven and a half years since I went on my LDS mission to Lisbon, Portugal. My mission was the single most beneficial experience of my life, which has led to insurmountable joy and happiness. I can honestly say my mission not only prepared me for adulthood, but continually blesses my life each day.

When one leaves for an LDS mission, he/she leaves all possessions, relationships, and ties behind and focuses all effort on serving others and forging a strong relationship with God.

But this post is not about my mission.

When I left for Portugal, one possession… my prized possession… that I left behind was my IPod. But his wasn’t just an IPod. This was a brand new 20 gb video IPod. That IPod was loaded with music, movies, pictures, and games. It also acted as my flash drive when I went away to college and had all of my schoolwork saved on it.

I bought my IPod right before I graduated high school. That IPod was my entire 18^th birthday and graduation presents, plus I had sold a handful of video games and CDs so I could get it. I’ll never forget driving to Best Buy to buy my IPod, and walking out with an extra thick plastic case and screen protector. Over the next 18 months, I took my IPod everywhere with me. I took amazing care of that IPod. When it was finally time for me to leave on my mission, my IPod was in perfect condition and full of my life.

But that’s not what it was like when I got home.

Scratched screen. Missing cord. Broken case. A battery that only lasted 13 minutes… with the backlight turned off. And worst of all, a worn out and caved in middle button.

I only had my beloved IPod for 18 months before relinquishing it to my family. Over the course of the next 24 months it was tossed from family member to family member, eventually abandoned and handed off as they each purchased their own.

The shell of an IPod that was returned to me when I got home was not even close to the device that I left behind. It was a serious point of contention. I couldn’t look at it without growing extremely irritated and frustrated that no one even apologized for thrashing my IPod. And I know this might make me sound a little dramatic, but my ruined IPod is the reason why I’ve never gotten back into music since I’ve been home.

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It has been seven and a half years since I left for my mission. I moved past my frustration and hurt feelings a long time ago, but thinking about my IPod always bugged me…until recently.

Just this week, I got an IPhone. I know, we’re halfway through 2015, I’m 26 years old, and I finally upgraded to a smart phone. I am loving this new little device. It has so many cool features and apps to keep me distracted or productive, depending on the time of day. But the best thing of all, for the first time in seven and a half years, I can think about my old IPod without getting upset!

After seven and a half years, I can fully absolve all those who destroyed my IPod of any wrongdoing, and ask them to forgive me for harboring negative feelings for so long.

But if any of you think about laying a hand on my IPhone 6 Plus, I will cut you.