Recently we lost a tremendous man. My wife’s grandpa, Johnnie Keith. He had many qualities of what is right in the world and how people should be. One of those qualities was kindness. It didn’t matter who you were or even if he knew you, he would treat you as if you were best of friends. By doing so you wanted to become just that, Johnnie’s friend. He would take the time to get to know you, but it wasn’t just for small talk he really cared and wanted to know. He would remember what you told him. He would greet you each time with a “Hello, Hello!” He would ask you how life was, how your job was going and about your family. Since his passing I’ve thought about his kindness to others. How many of us are too busy or just don’t want to hear what the another person might have to say? It sure meant the world to me that he would take time to see how my little family was doing. Such a simple act yet so far reaching. I think that’s what the Savior would have us do. He would want us to care for those around us by just checking in and see how they are doing.
Grandpa Keith was also obedient and faithful. On the first Sunday of each month he would go and visit his home teaching families. In February of this year, he started to take a turn for the worse. But being the faithful, obedient man that he was, he knew he needed to prepare his lesson for March. So with the help of his son Kenny, he prepared that lesson. Unfortunately, he never got around to giving it. He passed away on March 3rd. There is no doubt in my mind that he was able to give that lesson, just not on this side of the veil but on the other side to those that need to hear the gospel. I will be forever grateful to Grandpa Keith for his kindness and example of obedience and faithfulness. I hope that we all can take a little time out of our busy lives and do as Grandpa Keith would. Stop and say hello and get to know someone. It will make all the difference!
