A Simple Act Of Kindness by Marilyn Rivera

A Simple Act of Kindness“Have courage and be kind. For where there is kindness there is goodness and where is goodness there is magic.” - Cinderella

School has already started for about two months now. My daughter and I are in our normal routine from when she wakes up in the morning until she comes home in the afternoon. I wake her up around 6:30 in the morning. She would freshen up and ready herself for breakfast. And while she is eating, I would ask her what she would like for her snacks so I can prepare it for her to make it more special.

Packing her snacks and lunch is my most important task every school day. While I get her bag and her food ready, she would talk about Disney princesses and how Cinderella believes in magic and asked me if I believe in magic, too. But to engage her in a more meaningful conversation, I would ask her about her teacher, classmates and what school activities she is looking forward to this week. Through her stories, I get to know more about her teachers, classmates and the people she interacts with everyday.

One morning, she woke up an hour early and told me that she could not sleep anymore. I was done preparing her breakfast and decided to watch the morning shows that were on. Since she was up early, she asked permission if she could go through the pantry to decide on what snacks she would like for school today. Not a problem at all, I told her to choose what she wanted and just to make sure to include some fruits.

Looking on what she placed on the table, I was surprised to see that it was quite a lot. I asked her, "Are you sure that you can finish all these on your break?" She was hesitant to answer and said it was also for another classmate. I let it slide and told myself maybe she and her classmates are sharing snacks. It was perfectly fine.

Then the next day, I can sense that she was trying to find the courage to ask me something again. She was fidgeting at the corner of the table and then finally blurted out if she can bring two drinks and an extra sandwich today. She knew I don't agree on wasted food and told her to make sure she finishes everything or else, no more.

A week or so gone by, I realized that she has been asking for more snacks. Well, she was a growing kid so it was perfectly okay, even better I thought to myself. She knows what she wants, and asks for it. Not like other kids who would not say anything and just have their parents create assumptions all the time. I was proud of my daughter.

One day, she was walking towards me. She turned around and approached me again. Something was up with her, I know my daughter so well that no one can say otherwise. She finally found the courage to ask if she can have more food for lunch and rice. I asked her why because she normally does not finish everything in her lunch just her snacks. And she knows, I will say no but still she asked. She was being brave, I thought.

My daughter knows how I disagree with unfinished lunch. We have been having discussions of her leftover food almost every day. For me it is a big issue and she is fully aware of this. Then in her defense, she told me that it was for her classmate and that she was thinking he might not have lunch again today. I asked her what she meant by that. Then she explained to me that she has a classmate that did not always have snacks or lunch every day.

After hearing what she had to say, my heart melted. I asked her more about her classmate and told her that she can freely share what she has with him. She can also ask what he would like to eat. Being children, I know not everything would be appealing to their taste. From then on, I would ask her if she would like me to pack an extra lunch. She was happy and I also felt happy… and sad at the same time.

I have learned an important lesson from my daughter that day. That kindness is not taught, it is not something you learn. But kindness starts deep inside you. I never taught my daughter to pack extra snacks or save a portion of her food for someone else. It was her heart that told her to do it. Her compassion for others, her own sense of love and concern to people around her. She can always ignore her classmate, but she chooses not to.

Being good is always a matter of choice. Everyone is capable to do it, as anyone can change the world. Evil may exist but let us not forget to see the collateral beauty behind it. Most often than not, we try to find hope in far places and overlook to see that a beaming light of hope is well-hidden in our own child’s heart. For me, having courage and being kind is what makes my daughter’s world, and now, it makes my world. And through her world, I know that this magic called love and compassion will live forever.