Gale Woods Farm, Three Rivers Park District, Minnetrista, Minnesota
In first grade, Noah's teacher gave him the title of "star student" for one week. Not because he cleaned up or received a good grade, it was because he chose to be a friend to a boy who was new. He helped the boy feel welcome and made him belong.
This year I was looking over the list of his classmates (a benefit of working at his school) and he saw my expression change when I saw a particular boy's name on the list. He asked me "what's wrong?" I said, "Oh nothing, this boy...well I had some trouble with him last year in my class." Noah pressed further, "Is he really bad?" I explained, "I don't think he's 'bad,' I really don't. I think he just needs someone to show him he's cared about." Noah got a very serious look on his face and replied, "I will fill that space." Beautiful words from one so young.
We all feel a space somewhere in our hearts. A space that can only be filled by compassion. Maybe we can't always fill it completely. Sometimes we just have to work around it and accept the space that will live in us. But I believe, by giving and receiving compassion, we can make the space feel much smaller. In some cases, we might even help it to disappear as it fills with kindness and a sense of peace.
Little Boy Wisdom #73: By allowing ourselves to give or receive compassion, we can fill the space in our hearts.
