“Be kinder than necessary. What a marvelous line, isn’t it? Kinder than necessary. Because it’s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us the very choice of kindness. Such a simple thing. A nice word of encouragement given when needed. An act of friendship. A passing smile…children, what I want to impact to you today is an understanding of the value of that simple thing called kindness. And that’s all I want to leave you with today. If every single person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary – the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God.”
As I read these words, I couldn't help but get choked up. I looked out at the sweet 20-some faces staring back at me. I saw their futures -- would some grow to be professionals? Artists? Doctors or nurses? What would they be like in high school? Would they get caught up in poor decision making? I wanted to pour all my experiences and knowledge into their heads and save them from the pain the world can cause.
I saw some of my students tearing up with me, while others asked, "Why are you crying, Mrs. Curran?"
I smiled and said, "Because those words were so beautiful. Did you hear what Mr. Tushman just said? He was speaking to all of us. He told us, that if we are kinder than we need to be, you will show someone the face of God. You will show them what it means to be loved by God. That's a lot of power we all posses if we are kinder than necessary."
I hope my students truly heard these words with their hearts today. This was a lesson I tried to teach all year and the fact that our book articulated it so beautifully was just moving. I hope if I taught them anything in their 4th grade year, I taught them the importance of loving one another. Of loving everyone. I hope as they face life, somewhere in the back of their minds, they might remember a teacher, many years ago, who taught us to be kinder than necessary. I hope you, my boys, will learn that lesson too. It's not an easy one. It's one I have to work on every single day. But if we are kinder than necessary, no matter what the circumstance, we have the chance to shine Christ's light. Let’s all be a little kinder than necessary so that the world will see the face of God in us.
I saw some of my students tearing up with me, while others asked, "Why are you crying, Mrs. Curran?"
I smiled and said, "Because those words were so beautiful. Did you hear what Mr. Tushman just said? He was speaking to all of us. He told us, that if we are kinder than we need to be, you will show someone the face of God. You will show them what it means to be loved by God. That's a lot of power we all posses if we are kinder than necessary."
I hope my students truly heard these words with their hearts today. This was a lesson I tried to teach all year and the fact that our book articulated it so beautifully was just moving. I hope if I taught them anything in their 4th grade year, I taught them the importance of loving one another. Of loving everyone. I hope as they face life, somewhere in the back of their minds, they might remember a teacher, many years ago, who taught us to be kinder than necessary. I hope you, my boys, will learn that lesson too. It's not an easy one. It's one I have to work on every single day. But if we are kinder than necessary, no matter what the circumstance, we have the chance to shine Christ's light. Let’s all be a little kinder than necessary so that the world will see the face of God in us.
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