With all the fatigue that comes from being in my third trimester and run after our two year old child, compounded by headlines, life seems overwhelming. So, I end my days with little pleasures: soft cookies, tender trialsAnd wonderful reader comments. Here are nine that made my heart swell…
On the gentleness of children:
“I am a second grade teacher and each student in my class has a day of the week designated as a sharing day. One day, it was the turn of a rather reserved student. I reminded her that she could say anything; we just wanted to know what was going on in his life. She was eating a snack and hesitantly asked, “Can I tell you about my snack?” I said that would be perfect, so she told the class about her apple. As soon as she finished, almost every hand in the class went up. These beautiful children spent the next five minutes asking questions about her snack with as much interest as if she had just returned from Mars. What kind of apple is this? Is it still a green apple? Do you ever use almond butter? Do you have a recipe for this? (A recipe?!?) Watching this group of eight-year-olds rally around their classmate to show her that what she had to say mattered was one of the greatest acts of kindness I’ve seen since a long time. — SF
On small gestures:
“I’m seeing someone new and we recently had our first sleepover. It was a bit last minute, but by the time I got to his place, he had set up a nightstand for me with a glass of cold water, a set of earplugs and a phone charger (! ). It’s just small things, but it was so thoughtful. Every time I looked at my phone the next day, still almost fully charged, I felt cared for. — Em
“I just moved to Paris, where I struggle to learn a new language among strangers who, when they see me struggling to find the words, often roll their eyes and switch to English. The other day I was at IKEA and the cashier saw me struggling. When he switched to English, I told him, “Sorry, I’m learning French,” to which he smiled and said – in perfect French – “Then I’ll speak more slowly, so you can to understand.’ I could have cried. It was so simple and sweet and led to my first full conversation in French! » — Jessica
By transmitting it:
“After our wedding reception, my new husband and I arrived at our hostel at 2:30 a.m. We were starving after barely eating all night. When we entered our room, we were surprised to find a tray containing two club sandwiches and a bottle of champagne. My lovely father-in-law ordered it for us, and I’ve never been more grateful to see a plate of food, even over 40 years later. Now we do the same for the other newlyweds, which warms our hearts. — Jane
“I’m eight years old and I come from a small town. I went to the big city of Toronto on a school trip and excitedly attempted to buy $3 worth of candy at a downtown store. But I hadn’t counted my change correctly and didn’t have enough to cover the amount. I remember panicking until the woman behind me leaned over and paid for my candy. It felt like the most generous gesture of my life. Fast forward to last summer: I am now an adult Torontonian stopped at a small gas station. Two eight-year-old boys are in front of me with Drumstick ice cream bars at the register. They don’t have enough money, and I hear one whisper to the other, “I thought you had $5!!!” So, I buy their ice cream. It felt great to pay it forward. — Steve
On family love:
“My seven-year-old daughter was tasked with drawing a map of her heart at school and drew her little sister and me right in the middle. Her caption read: “My mom and sister are everything to me!” As a sometimes lonely and stressed single mother, nothing could have made me happier. — Jesse
“At a parent-teacher conference, I expressed that my main concern for my son was that he would feel excluded or bullied because of his small size. The teacher’s aide said kindly: “Know that he is never alone in the playground. He very intentionally approaches the children standing nearby and asks them to play. At the end of recess, he runs around with half the class. He has a huge, kind heart that he shares with everyone, and you should be very proud. v.
See people as they want to be seen:
“During my chemotherapy, I went to the mall with a friend and received many sideways glances. When you’re swollen from medications, bald, and not feeling well, you feel exposed and have nowhere to hide. Finally, in one of the stores, a woman came up to me, took my hands in hers and said: “It won’t always be like this and your hair will grow back, just like mine . It was the first time since starting chemotherapy that someone had invited a glimpse of a future self that could return to normal. I felt seen. — Shivani
“As I was returning my rental car to the airport after visiting my mother in hospital, I received a call informing me that she had passed away. I was stunned. The gentleman who worked there approached the car to record it, but I told him, “My mother just died and I have to stay in Los Angeles longer.” He then asked me if he could pray for me. He held my hands and prayed that I would have the strength and healing to get through this time. As tears streamed down my face, he patted my hands like my mother did when I was a child. A few days later when my brother and I returned the car, he must have put a note on our reservation because the attendants drove us to the terminal so we didn’t have to take the shuttle. That was 10 years ago and I still cry when I think of him. — Rosanne
How has someone shown you kindness?
P.S. More Amazing Reader CommentsAnd what is the sweetest thing someone has ever said to you?
(Photo of Lady Bird.)
