Looking Forward to 2013 ..... Kindness!

Sweet angels! 

Dear Joshua and Luke,

     Ready or not, 2013 has arrived!  We have so many things to do and look forward to this year.  I must begin by telling that kindness is weighing a lot on my heart right now.  Every night we pray that God uses our hands and bodies to do his work on Earth.  I really feel that God needs us more than ever right now.  I believe that we are being charged with bringing light to others.





 Joshua sang in the choir at another church in town at a joint Christmas celebration to celebrate the official end to the Christmas season at church - Epiphany.  We are so proud of Joshua.  He enjoys singing and he is so good at it.  He brings smiles to so many people that watch him in the choir.  After the performance, many people stopped us to tell us that Joshua stole the show.  It must have been his big, beautiful smile while everyone else was singing in the performance.  Later on Joshua mentioned that he did not know the words to the song because they always practice it last during practice.  Joshua always leaves a little earlier to get to the Atrium for his religious studies.  Makes sense! :)

Joshua singing in the choir under
Sister Judy's direction.
 

     While both church choirs were practicing for the last practice before the show, Sister Judy talked to the group and thanked everyone for participating. She mentioned that the choir members bring light to others who hear them.  She said that if there was ever a time we need light it is now.  And to bring light to others.

     That struck a chord in me. It was time to stop thinking about it and start doing something.  I had been thinking about needing to more actively bring kindness and light to others.  We often strive to do it, but we need to bring ourselves to do even more for others.  Many people around the world had been planning random acts of kindness, particularly in honor of the adults and children that died in CT weeks earlier.  One mom friend asked people to do random acts of kindness in honor of her birthday.  Great idea!  Others mentioned that they were going to do 26 acts of kindness in honor of the 26 lives lost in Connecticut.  While that was tempting to follow, I could not yet bring myself to get closer to the sadness in Connecticut.  The sadness and aching in my stomach has been there since December 14.  I have not been able to shake it, but at least now we have something to focus on that is so needed in our world. 

Joshua, Luke, Grandma Nichols & Mom
(Daddy is taking the picture.)

     So we have decided to make kindness our theme for this year.  Kindness throughout all aspects of our lives.  This is more than the usual things we try to do, but really reaching out for the most vulnerable people around us.  Stretching ourselves to be more kind and thoughtful to others.  This will be more than paying for the person behind us in the drive thru.  More than giving a few dollars to a homeless person.  More than praying for others.  As a family, we  ARE going to do more. 

    Both of you have been very giving and have big hearts already.  Whether it is Joshua playing piano for the residents at the nursing home or it is Luke making sure that someone eats a slice of Grandma's pie so that she is not sad (even though Grandma told you this was nothing to worry about), you are both the best!  Together we are going to find more ways to bring God's light to others through kindness. 

     I love you more today than I did yesterday.  (Yes, that is possible!) :) 

Love,
Mama