Kindness Begins With Me

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     We’ve had a pretty quiet week, except for Ted who after two very busy weeks finally finished interviews on Friday. The last zone he interviewed is one of our biggest, he came home Friday very tired after interviewing twenty two missionaries. This coming week will be very busy as we head into the end of our transfer!

     Monday Ben and Mari had a break from school and Shelly had the day off. We had planned on going as a family to the Queen Mary for a tour but remembered that Mari is still in a lot of pain and it’s hard for her to walk around on her sprained ankle. So instead of the excursion to Long Beach we went to see a movie at our local theatre. It’s sometimes hard to find a movie that everyone will enjoy (the girls are always ready for a little romance and the boys like action). After some deliberation we went to see Hugo and were all a little let down. It is a sweet movie but one which we could have enjoyed on DVD in a few months. We were still happy to spend some time together relaxing.

     Ben, Mari and I spent Saturday doing many errands. We went to a Peruvian restaurant in Cerritos (homework assignment for Spanish class), it was fun and the food was interesting. We also found Mari’s dress for “Mormal”, a formal dance for the LDS youth in our stake and a new white shirt for Ben. Ben couldn’t button up the collar on his white shirt last Sunday, he continues to work out with the football team at the High School and is building a lot of muscle.

     The talks in Sacrament meeting were on kindness. Both talks were excellent and such great reminders of the importance of choosing to be kind. The speakers shared quotes and stories from a talk by Elder Wirthlin. Here are a few of his very sweet words: “Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have known. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.”

     “Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes.”

     “Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome of kindness and compassion. He healed the sick. He spent much of His time ministering to the one or many. He spoke compassionately to the Samaritan woman who was looked down upon by many. He instructed His disciples to allow the little children to come unto Him. He was kind to all who had sinned, condemning only the sin, not the sinner. He kindly allowed thousands of Nephites to come forward and feel the nail prints in His hands and feet. Yet His greatest act of kindness was found in His atoning sacrifice, thus freeing all from the effects of death, and all from the effects of sin, on conditions of repentance.”

     “As our Heavenly Father loves us, we also should love His children.”

     “May we be models of kindness. May we ever live up to the words of the Savior: ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another’.”

     One of the speakers also taught that one of the kindest things we can do is to share the Gospel with our friends and family and one of the best ways we can do it is by being kind. He told about one of his co-workers who asked him many questions about the Church. She began to notice other people in her life who were Mormons and observed, “They are all so kind.” Eventually her admiration for these members of the Church led her to take the missionary lessons. She and her family were soon baptized.

     The sister that spoke shared the words to a favorite Primary song to end her talk, “I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right you see. So, I say to myself remember this – kindness begins with me.”

     A beautiful, simple, Sunday message that if implemented will make the world a better place.

We love each of you!

The Long Beach Buberts