Randon Acts of Kindness 2

Sometime late yesterday I started to feel August 18th, 2009 approaching. For weeks now there have been reminders--Joie's birthday, back to school shopping, all reminders of an anniversary we prepare for rather than look forward to, one we wish we could shut out but have pledged to never forget. Yesterday evening as I pulled into a store parking lot I could see the sun shining through the clouds, much like I imagine Ruth described seeing as she left the temple the night before they died. I ached like I do so many times to see Ruth, Nick and little Audrey again, to talk to them, to hear their laughter and voices.

I finished shopping. It was beginning to rain as I came out of the store and as is often the case with Utah rain, the sun was shining through the rain and I could see two rainbows that I could have sworn from where I was sitting ended right at my house. I thought of the promise associated with the rainbow--that no matter how difficult the storm there will always come a bright new day. (I know...not quite the way God said it to Noah, but that's how it's said in the book of Mary.)

And so we go, feeling the pain, feeling the promise, and it is the promise, not the pain that moves us forward. Once again this year I find myself thinking in terms of living in memory of Ruth, Nick and Audrey, quite frankly because that is how I get through the pain. A year ago, in honor of the lives of service lived by them, and by those who came so willingly to our sides to support us through the most difficult of times, we committed ourselves and anyone else who wanted to join us to performing random acts of kindness on August 18th in memory of Ruth, Nick and Audrey Weaver. Once again this year we invite everyone to join us in doing something to spread kindness, love, and compassion to others. Some examples posted in comments last year included helping friends, helping family members, babysitting for a friend, inviting a friend to play, writing a note to someone, offering to shop for someone, letting someone go in front of you in line for the grocery store...all wonderful ideas. Thank you for helping their memory to live on (and we'd love to hear what you do).