From the Heart: Be a Cupcake Maker

Be a Cupcake Maker

You Never Know When a Nice Gesture Can Change a Life

by Lori Kroh

I was thinking about the first day of school. All the new shoes, backpacks, and shiny supplies. It’s a big deal and everyone takes notice. Then, I thought of the last day of school, and how everyone is ready for it to end. It came to me that no one notices the shoes or the backpacks on the last day, as they are only concerned with the final bell.

This leads me to the middle, the mundane. The day-in and dayout, where a lot of times many things go unnoticed and nothing is new. It’s a routine and the kids mark off the months by holidays, birthdays, and school breaks. The middle is what forms us. Our life takes on meaning through our relationships, duties, and gestures in the day-to-day occurrences with each other and the community.

Maybe because I like frosting, or maybe I’m an enthusiast for all things happy. I share this next story because it’s true and shows what one gesture can do for others.

There was this little boy at school who did not have a mother. His father worked many hours and was never around. He was always the one without the clean clothes, the dirty-smelling boy who no one talked to at school ... he was the outcast. He was on the fringe and the teachers did their best, yet he wasn’t included in parties or at recess. He was an outsider.

He was walking to school one morning and each step was slower and heavier than the last. Today was the boy’s birthday and it was customary to bring cupcakes on your birthday. You shared them with the class and for one day you got attention like no other. The teacher taught them why celebrating is important — because everyone is special. Today was the boy’s birthday. His father forgot all about it and had left for work early that morning. He was trying to think of a story he could tell so he wouldn’t be embarrassed. If only a dog would bite him or he could fall down the manhole, anything to avoid the shame of showing up without cupcakes. He had tears flowing down his cheeks and his anger was rising inside of his heart. He knew he would face teasing at recess and he was looking forward to having the teacher give him attention all day. He was going to be the only one who never brought cupcakes and he felt ashamed and hated himself and his life.

As he got near the school, a lady waved to him from her front door. He didn't know her ... but she looked nice and smelled good. He told her hello as he wiped his tears with his sleeve.

She asked him, "Isn't today your birthday?" He nodded. Then, she opened up a bag and pulled out a container of cupcakes. They had the most beautiful designs and sprinkles on them and the frosting looked to be three inches high. "Would you like to take these to class since it's your birthday? I made them just for you.” He stared at the most beautiful frosted cupcakes he had ever seen — and he would get to carry them in. He would be a part of the class and he knew the kids would know he was loved, even though he didn’t have a mother.

He took them and thanked her and he walked into the class with his head held so high. His entire life had just changed and he felt the worry and weight of the world fall off his shoulders. This was the very first time he ever felt a PART of something. EVER.

He would get to be included and not rejected and it was on his birthday. Cupcakes. Those little ol' cupcakes changed his life forever. You just never know when the little gesture you did for someone could alter their path of life. You just never know that by taking the time with someone, you rescued them from shame, saved them in their despair, and encouraged them with hope. Let’s look around and see if anyone needs a cupcake maker for the first day and last day — and mostly in the middle.