Have Courage & Be Kind

On my way home from work tonight, I stopped at WalMart to get some laundry detergent and apples. In the check-out line, I stood behind a young couple with a baby who did not look more than 2 weeks old. She was so beautiful and wide eyed, staring up at her dad who was hunched over her, making cooing noises and telling her how pretty she was.  At two weeks old, so fresh from heaven, she clearly couldn’t understand the words her dad was saying, but I’m sure she felt the love oozing out of his voice and eyes.

As I left the store and got in my car, I day dreamed of the day that I have my own little on in the carseat on top of the shopping cart with an adoring Steven towering over him or her. My heart leaped at the thought.

I took a right off State Street onto 100 East in American Fork. As I neared the base of the hill leading up to the rec center and cemetery, I noticed on the sidewalk to my right two couples. They were walking very slowly. The first couple looked as if they were in their 40’s or 50’s, and the second couple looked significantly older. The younger man and women, had the elderly woman hoisted up, supporting her on each side. She was shuffling along the sidewalk, slowly, but consistently. Following behind was the elderly man holding on to her wheelchair just inches behind her heels as if he were ready to catch her at any second. I don’t know if the woman had a fall or if old age had just gotten to her joints and legs, but it was encouraging to see her with her perhaps son and daughter, hoisting her up and allowing her to walk.

As I came up the hill and began passing the cemetery on my left, I saw a small family gathered around a tombstone with fresh flowers on it. There were 2 teenage boys with their parents. Dad had his arm around moms shoulder, and mom was holding one of the boys hands. I passed just as the dad leaned over and kissed the mom on the head and watched her wipe tears off her cheeks. I don’t know who they were mourning for, maybe a son or daughter, or a grandparent or friend, but my heart ached as I watched them. Their hands clasped together as if holding onto each other for support or maybe even survival.

I couldn’t get these images out of my head the rest of the way home. First the dad cooing over his brand new baby daughter, the couple hoisting their aged mother or friend with her husband following closely behind, and the family mourning the loss of a loved one. My heart burst at the dad cooing to his daughter, it cheered on the woman to take another step, and ached for the mother wiping her tears.

Shortly after getting home, I went and picked up Steven and we went to see Cinderella.  It was not only the PERFECT movie but it left a huge impression on me as it taught one lesson throughout the show. Ella’s mother tells her as a child to always “Have Courage and Be Kind.”  Life is too short to be anything else! For the tiny little baby, her journey has just begun; for the woman walking with the support of 3 others, hers was winding down; and for the person being mourned, theirs may have ended too soon.  

Hold the ones you love close. Cherish each moment with them. Let go of grudges. Have courageous and be kind. Because “when there is goodness, there is magic.”