I’m surprised, and grateful, to be able to report that the sense down here is serene. Everybody’s sad, and tired, but doing okay. My mom came in from Ruthie’s house tonight and said, “You can really feel her presence over there.” I walked next door to say hello to Mike and the girls, and I instantly understood what Mama meant. There is peace where there shouldn’t be peace.

People are doing such amazing things for this family. Ruthie’s daughter Hannah and a friend were driving lickety-split to get up to the hospital in West Feliciana from LSU, when her radiator conked out. A man pulled in behind them straightaway, asked what the problem was, and hearing their plight, said, “Get in, I’ll take you wherever you need to go.” This perfect stranger drove them 30 miles out of his way, with all three of them praying for Ruthie the entire journey. They don’t even know the man’s name.

Another man who owns a car repair shop nearby drove down to pick up Hannah’s ailing jeep. He brought it home, replaced the radiator in it, and refused to take a penny for his parts and labor.

You watch these things happen, and you can hardly take the purity of people’s generosity and love.

A young high school teacher tonight on Ruthie’s Facebook page writes:

You know, you have always inspired me to be my best as a teacher and always will. I would always try to write or call, but I never knew what to say. You stopped class one day when report cards were issued to announce that I made all A’s. You even went across the hall to get Ms. Mary Henderson to witness the moment. The two of you were the dream team. The important thing is that i remember this 17 years later. My first true moments of when I knew what I was supposed to do. You were my motivation and inspiration along with so many others. I thank God for you and your time here on earth. Like any great person, you will live in and through us always…

This man is a teacher today because of her. Once, early in Ruthie’s teaching career, I was home from Washington visiting, and hearing her talk about how difficult her class was this year. Cutting up in class, not doing homework, the usual thing.

“Ruthie,” I told her, “I swear I don’t know how you put up with it. Why would want to deal with that?”

She looked at me like there was something wrong with me, and said softly, “Because I love them.”

Since she was in second grade, Ruthie has wanted to be a teacher, thanks to the example of Miss Bennett, her teacher that year. You never know the good you can do for people if you just love them, and are patient with them, and help them when their ox is in a ditch. It’s the simplest thing in the world to know, but why is it so hard?

UPDATE: Look at this, from Shannon Nixon Morell:

 I am one of Ruthie’s students from Bains Elementary back in our hometown of St. Francisville.

I am now 29 and can say Ruthie has been such a great friend to me over the years. I am a small town girl who went to the U.S. Navy to get away but never lost touch with your wonderful sister. She told me when I was in the 6th grade that despite what was going on at home: having an alcoholic father, low income, and no support, that despite that, I could be whatever I wanted to be. Her smile, her words, and her hugs were enough. I took that with me and I am doing exactly what I want with my life as a MFT working for UCLA now.

I was able to chat with Ruthie a few weeks ago and she told me how proud she was of me.

Ruthie I believe was an angel sent from God to help people like me to give encouraging words and you knew she meant it!

She will forever be my angel.