Everyday Snippet #11 - Kind Words

As a silent observer in the classroom, I watch as children take construction toys and let their imagination carry them away. Their teacher peruses the aisles, looking at each creation and guessing what it may be. She comes suddenly upon one which she recognizes immediately.

"Is this a dinosaur?" she asks one red-haired child.

He nods his head proudly.

"Wow!" she exclaims. "I could tell right away. You did a fabulous job."

The child's eyes light up with nothing short of absolute wonder, and he gasps quietly. Though he uses no words, I can imagine what must be running through his mind: "Me? I did a good job? Rarely does anyone say that to me." He looks back down at his handiwork and cradles it with a special care. If before he thought his creation was acceptable, he now believed it was a masterpiece.

I ponder on how words affect us. Hardly ever does anyone assume you like them or approve of anything they do. If all else we forget and all else we lack, let us not neglect to pass on what we all possess if we dig deep enough: kindness. We may never know how much a simple compliment changes a person's life.