Happy New Year! I’m realizing that January is becoming one of my favorite times of year. That’s because it’s oftentimes full of two things: hope and snow. Snow is cold and can be a nightmare to drive through, but in my mind, snow equates to fresh starts and clean slates. January is full of hope. Everyone is looking toward the future full of optimism, dreams, and goals.
I recently attended a meditation class. I’ve never gone to one before. I really enjoyed the opportunity to quietly ponder about the past and reflect about the future. At the end of the class we were invited to pick a word, words, or sentence that we wanted to use as our mantra for the year. I chose the words patience and kindness. For some reason, I felt like the two words go hand-in-hand.
The word “kindness” moves me. I like the definitions found on “Kindness 101”1 from InspireKindness.com where it says “kindness is grace.”
Kindness is grace
I wanted to share two stories of unforgettable kindness with you.
One AM on Christmas Day
I came across a story about Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s last Christmas that I’d never heard before. A peculiar thing happened that some may have found to be a disturbance, but it actually brought the prophet and his brother much joy.
In a beautiful retelling of the story, “Song for a Prophet”2 describes what happened:
“The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded that at 1:00 on Christmas morning, 1843, Lettice Rushton and her family and neighbors gathered under his window and began singing, “which caused a thrill of pleasure to run through my soul.” The music so moved him that he “felt to thank … Heavenly Father for their visit, and blessed them in the name of the Lord.”
Lettice Rushton was a convert from England. She was very recently widowed. Ten years ago she had lost her eyesight. I wonder what had led to this event and what inspired this blind, grieving woman to wake up in the middle of a cold, dark winter’s night to go and sing at the prophet and the patriarch’s doorstep.
We may never know for sure, so we’ll just have to call it inspiration. Whatever led to it, this single act of kindness stayed with Joseph and Hyrum enough that it was recorded in the History of the Church. It brought them both joy, peace, and happiness. The story of Lettice’s kindness lived on.
Even though the brothers would be martyred six months later in Carthage, it makes me happy to know that they had a wonderful last Christmas. It makes me happy to know that this 59-year-old woman could provide such a service to them. It embodies the principle that one kind act can last for generations.
“The Best Gift of All”
This December, I was thrilled to have one of my stories printed in The Friend . “The Best Gift of All” is based on a true story. I didn’t know the story until the last few years when my sister shared it with me. She was kind enough to let me write about it.
The story is about when my family had a house fire before Christmas. We lost many of our belongings. I remember I lost some of the most valuable possessions on Earth – to a little girl, there’s not much more important than her “blankie” and her “teddy.” We also lost all of our Christmas presents that year – presents we would never open.
However, my sister experienced an act of generosity that touched her heart in a way that she never forgot.
This is another example of kindness that lived on for decades. I’m really glad we could share it with others this year in The Friend. You can read the story on their website here.
Go Forth and Be Kind!
I love these stories. I love the idea of acting on inspiration and the limitless possibilities it can bring. While I’m writing this I can’t help but think of Gail Halvorsen, famously known as “The Candy Bomber.”
I was lucky enough to get to meet him and write about it. When I met him he said: “The little decisions in life are the ones that matter,” he said. “The little decisions you make put your footsteps on the path that leads to your final destination.”3
Every Christmas I watch the Christmas Concert with the Tabernacle Choir when he was the honored guest. I “happy cry” every time without fail! If you haven’t watched it, it’s worth it!
Happy New Year everybody! Let’s go forth and be kind this year. And when we’re not, let’s remember that “kindness is grace” and start all over again!
Sincerely,
Justina #NauvooBlogger
Sources
- https://inspirekindness.com/blog/kindness-101
- Mortensen, Lori. “Song for a Prophet.” Churchofjesuschrist.org, Liahona, 2002, www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2002/12/song-for-a-prophet?lang=eng
- McCandless, Justina. “Candy Bomber Delivers Explosion of Inspiration.” The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sept. 2012, archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54826155&itype=cmsid.
