"On Children, Shining Stars, and Kindness"

kindness:  n. the state of being kind; instance of charitable behavior.

The little one had left her star in the classroom, and she hurried back to retrieve it.  Made of blue construction paper with her name on it, she informed the older sister and me that it was her fourth shining star, that she had received more shining stars this year than anyone in her class.  My thought was that this second grader was a teacher's dream of a student, one who followed instructions, sat quietly, and was a good citizen, and she had been rewarded with such a treasure.   Placed alongside her other shining stars on the refrigerator, I told her how proud I was of her--and I was. 

It wasn't until the next day that I learned the story behind this very special shining star.  Social interaction does not come easily for all children.  For some, relating to others is most difficult, and so they withdraw, pulling into themselves.  These are often the ones on the outer fringes of a group, isolated and alone.  The school classroom with all its chaos and activity is troubling and unsettling to and for them.

The teacher had given "free choice" to her students, the equivalency of a 20-minute recess in the classroom.  The little one chose to play with a little guy who struggles, one who doesn't come close to being the social butterfly she is.  But there aren't many, regardless of age, who can match her on that plane.  However, what Mrs. Dickson took note of was that she was the only one who played with him, and the two played together the entire time.  Syd's shining star was a very observant teacher's acknowledgement of that.

Kindness is a quality I don't hear spoken of much these days.  One hears "be nice, be civil, compassionate, supportive, be a team player," but very little about being kind.     

An innate trait, there is a natural follow-through, actions and behavior revealing and manifesting that trait. 

In our society much emphasis is placed on the need for adult role models for our children.  While a valid, important point, there is often a failure to recognize that children possess the same qualities, or lack thereof, as adults.  I would maintain the real role models are our children who live their lives unencumbered by correctness and games, with openness, honesty, and purity.  It would behoove all of us, myself included, to follow the lead of a small child with her shining star and her very kind spirit.  

What would our homes and families, our neighborhoods, schools and workplaces, our society and world be like if just this one virtue was put into practice?

A little bit of kindness goes a long ways.

"Be ye kind one to another."