Back in the old Brigham City 11th Ward, when I was in high school and thinking about a future career, Pat Hunsaker was called to be the Primary chorister.
Last Sunday, as I was thinking about retirement, she was released.
I know that's unusual — more than 40 years in a calling. But I'm not the Great Writer of destinies. I'm just a kid learning to spell.
Pat's calling has been simple and unadorned, yet vital.
Who's to say that filling young hearts with music each week isn't every bit as important as checking those hearts for defects? After all, as Mother Teresa said, "We can't do great things. We can only do small things with great love."
And that has been Pat Hunsaker's approach.
By my count, she has spent more than 2,000 Sundays helping 500 kids sing 10,000 songs.
That's quite a set of CDs.
"Every song carries a special message," she told me. "If children can learn the Primary songs, it gives them a great foundation for whatever comes after."
And for Pat's kids, a lot has come after. They have become civic leaders, church leaders, doctors, nurses, engineers. One little girl grew up to be a military pilot.
Pat's favorite song after all those years?
"A Child's Prayer," by Janice Kapp Perry.
Her favorite memory?
There are dozens. But she pulls one out to share — the day she was preparing the kids for a song about service by asking what they did to help around the house. One proud, little boy shot up his hand. "I dust off the scriptures!" he said.
The Buddhists claim any task can be a path to God.
I have to believe Mormons are on the same page with them.
And just a few moments with Pat Hunsaker shows how much of that path she's walked.
"There's nothing like working with children," she says, struggling to keep back the tears. "My heart will always be with the Primary."
Just as the hearts of hundreds of former Primary children will always be with her.