Teaching children how to show kindness to others can be easily achieved by being a role model. Show your kids how to treat others by your actions.
Yesterday an opportunity presented itself for me to show my children how to show someone kindness.
After picking up my daughter from the bus stop, we started driving towards our home. It was very overcast and I noticed one of the little boys walking home. Not wanting him to get caught in a massive downpour (that was threatening to come at any second) I pulled over to the side of the road, rolled down my window and asked him if he would like a ride home.
My daughter just started school this August so I've only known the Moms and Dads at the stop for a few months. The little boy refused my offer for a ride.
Immediately following me driving off the rain started pouring and it really came down.
It was very ugly outside, with loud thundering and even lightning.
While it broke my heart to drive off and watch the little boy running towards his home, I kept thinking that his Mommy would be proud. I think he's in the 4th grade so he's not as little as I might be portraying him.
The bottom line is, although he's seen me often at the stop, I am a stranger to him and I couldn't help being proud of him for telling me no. Of course I wouldn't harm him but he doesn't know that.
So while my random act of kindness didn't quite go over as well as I would have like, I was presented with an opportunity to explain to my five-year-old how important it is not to accept rides from strangers. It was difficult for her to understand why the little boy refused to get a ride home when he was going to get wet in the rain. We talked about this for quite some time and she kept saying, "I feel so bad for ________."
Although we had a good discussion on how the little boy was just doing what he was told by his Mom, my daughter was still worried about him being wet in the rain and getting hit by lightning. Finally after a few minutes, I assured her that he would be home by now and was probably drying off.
In the end, the lesson learned wasn't the one of intention but it's always great when you are able to teach your children a lesson through actions.
When is the last time you did a random act of kindness?
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12, NIV)
1 comment:
Interesting story - act of kindness shown by offering ride, lesson learned how not to accept rides from strangers - you killed 2birds with one stone (lol).
I homeschool my middle schoolers and I'm going to work this in as an assignment for later this week "Showing an act of Kindness", will let you know how it went.
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