There are many, many lessons our children learn – and most of them do not involve their parents.
We are still coping and reeling from the recent lesson that Sassy learned about stalking. (She is safe, brave, and back to her annoying self.)
I’ve watched painfully as they’ve learned about boyfriends, girl “frenemies”, sibling fighting, about how words hurt, about bad choices, and about how a single event can bring you a grief that you’ve never imagined.
However, they’ve also learned that there are amazing people in the world, and that if you are truly a good hearted person, and do for others, then good things will come back to you tenfold. The girls saw this many times in the last year, and last weekend the Golden Boy was the recipient of a most recent lesson.
I had a meeting with some fellow teachers over the break (Don’t let anyone tell you that teachers don’t work at home. It’s a lie.) to plan a unit that we will be implementing this month. One of the other teachers has a son in Golden Boy’s class, and we thought they could bowl a few games while we did our planning at those tall tables behind the lanes. (Who needs quiet- we’re USED to chaos.)
After the games, the boys went looking to buy some water bottles. GB had a five dollar bill and was searching and searching for change- and no one working at any of the areas seemed willing to give it to him. I happen to glance up as a man (who was bowling with his family) walked across the lanes toward my son and handed him something. I watched as he told him something, and sent him toward the water machine.
“What did that man give you?” I asked Golden Boy when he returned with his water.
“He gave me the $1.50 and told me that when I was older, I was supposed to do something nice for someone else.” And he looked at me with a serious look on his face, and then broke out in a smile.
That man, who I have never met, taught my middle school son an invaluable lesson.
I thank all of you “angels” out there who do this daily. It might not be money, or gifts, but just by your behavior, your demeanor, your politeness and your generosity, you are teaching all of our children lessons that feel good.
Keep up the good work.
(How about a little bloggy love for Anna. She could use a thumbs up over here.)
59 comments:
Love this story. Thanks for sharing. Hope you're feeling better soon.
As usual, what a great story.
I have been away and have missed catching up with you and your funny blog!
Have a wonderful 2010!
Coincidentally, I had just started writing a post about angels today for my blog (haven't finished it yet), and then I saw yours.
Yes, there are angels in this world. I've known a few of them personally. They can teach us so much about what we need to know.
That is something Golden Boy with carry with him for the rest of his life.
Love this! It is a wonderful thing when people show kindnesses like this. Thanks for sharing the story.
marvelous!
How wonderful that man is...and may the circle never be broken. Let it spiral on and on through the years! Love it!
That's so sweet. Maybe there's hope for humankind after all!
He'll always remember this and someday he will repeat this, and more than once too. Excellent. :)
Here's the thing... what happened at the bowling alley was not a miracle..it was a kind gesture by not an angel nor a saint, but a man.
It was nothing extraordinary and something we are all capable of doing.
Loving one another :)
I am glad Golden Boy was able to be a recipient of this kind act and realize it's greatness.
There is no doubt in my mind that he will someday "pay it forward" if he hasn't done so already :)
Beautiful way to end my day...
Peace ~ Rene
How wonderful!
love this story.
love those angels.
smiles.
Cut it out, you're going to mess up my cynicism.
What a great story and what a great lesson! Aren't the people in Oregon, where we live, just terrific!
Teachers definelty work tons outside school and You are an angel my friend.
A gift indeed.
BTW~ love the “frenemies” an urban dictionary entry in the making!
I'm glad GB was able to "get" the lesson. I think my own Golden Child would brag about scoring a free water. He's still an idiot.
Sounds like it was a good deed for both of you.
What a great story, I hope this man realizes what he did! No doubt he received a similar lesson many years ago. Makes you want to hug him!
Aww..that's great. He won't soon forget that! Whenever I'm around my nieces or nephews, or any kid for that matter, whenever one of them walks into the room I'm in, I always smile at them. I think they just like to be acknowledged for just being themselves.
Plus, as the 'cool' uncle, I DO have my reputation to keep up with! $5 bills anyone?
Not to toot my own horn here, but I was being waited on at a store and a lady came and asked the clerk(her sister, as she said hey sis...lol), for a quarter to call their mom. Sis said she didn't have a quarter on her and to come back later. I took a quarter out of my purse, not much, I know, and gave it to her and told her to call her mom and be happy that she could do so, as I couldn't do that now(lost her 6 yrs ago). I have no idea what she needed to call her for, but at least she could. And don't I wish I could call my ma.....
Well wasn't that the sweetest thing!
That is a great lesson and he will always remember it in a way that transcends typical learning..its an experience to call his own..thanks for posting this..its a great reminder that everyday is an opportunity..!
Great story...warms my cynical heart!
Nice that GB recognized the significance and also nice for him to be acknowledged. It's so hard at that age because people are always dismissing young teenagers when they most need the acknowledgment.
An instance like that shows that there are good people in the world. Sometimes we start thinking everyone who's a stranger is bad, but it's not that way.
Secretia
It is nice to hear things like this. I love it when people do stuff without expecting anything in return!
Yeah.... We had a random act of kindness a few years back, someone bought us dinner so we planned our pay it forward and one day while in our car at McDonald's we told the worker we would like to pay for the car behind us. My girls were able to turn around in their seats and see the look on the faces in the car when they were told their lunch had already been paid for... priceless. I think we are due for another RAK soon.
Your post brought a few tears to my eyes. I believe in the good in people and "practicing random acts of kindness". Thank you so very much for sharing this with everyone. It is an important life lesson, especially in todays world.
Take care, Sue
That is a great story! This is my idea of what religion is, not an almighty god, but people all being kind to each other.
Pay it forward is the best kind of kindness. This is great.
Oh how wondeful, my mom always told me to be nice to everyone because we might be entertaining angels unaware, it is so awesome to hear a reasl life story of this practice...
I love random acts of kindness. Have done some myself. Probably not enough. Will work on that.
Awwww! What a sweet story!
that. is. AWESOME.
pay it forward.
LOVE IT.
It's easy to believe in angels when you ARE one, Vodka.
GB will do a world of good with people like you leading the way.
People like that help me keep sane in the crazy world of ours.
Thanks so much for sharing the story!!
Awwwwww ... great story! After a rough day, that's the kind of thing that makes me want to give the internet a smooch.
I'll settle for giving you hugz at BlissDom! :D
I got money like that once, when I'd lost my mom's last five bucks. One of our family friends saw me balling my eyes out and took pity on me. Told me to run the $$ into the house and tell Mom I found what I thought I'd lost. I never forgot that. Never will.
I love stories that remind us all of the good that can be in people!
aw...that just made my heart smile!
Such a great lesson to learn in life!
I love stories like that....I bet Golden Boy will remember that for years to come.
I'm afraid you've been had.
Actually, I told him to go buy his mum a flower and a creme egg.
I love that. It's not a handout - it's an invitation to pass on good will.
Angels show up in the strangest places...
How do you know GB didn't learn that if he whined long enough strangers would throw money at him?
Because that's the lesson I've learned here today.
I love random acts of kindness... and teaching our kids to pay it forward is an awesome concept.
Sometimes strangers can teach our kids something in a moment that they wouldn't hear from us in a lifetime.
Uummmmmm... Your links both go to the UrbanDictionary....
Didn't you want us to go give some Bloggy love to Anna?
Or maybe I'm confused.
Happens all the time!
=-)
You just warmed my cockles! ;)
Aw that it is so sweet! Love angels like this in our everyday lives!
I've always felt that the best way to teach or lead is by example.
If everyone performed random acts of kindness, we'd have a happier world. I love this story!
Hopefully GB remembers the lesson. Every once in a while I do a free treatment for someone who is poor and really needs it. I tell them that someday someone else will need help from them and to help them. Some look at me like I'm crazy and some get it.
I believe in Angels too...great post!!!
OH, you are just so AWESOME! Thanks for the blog love, my dear. You are one of *my* angels...and I'm a lucky girl to have you!
XOXOXOXO
Anna
great story. thanks for sharing that.
also. it made me all emotional. and i don't get emotional. fo' serious.
imma grab your button. because i can't really grab anything else around here...
What a nice thing for your son; bet he'll always remember that. And pass it on...
A complete strange man gave your son money?!
I think you should have asked this strange man to see his driver's license.
I'm just in my twenties, childless but from childhood it's been pounded in my head to NEVER accempt money or candy from complete strangers.
Great story, thank you. Also, thank you for the great blog. I've never commented before, just looked, but somehow felt I had to this time!
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