Evidence of Childhood Kindness

This week an envelope came in the mail from my friend Andy. She always is the first Christmas card we get of the season and I thought this was too early even for her. I opened it and it was a child’s drawing and a note from Andy.

She had been cleaning out things from her kids school years and happened upon this school assignment by her daughter Madi. Madi and Carter were classmates and friends all through their school years. Madi was a great kid, but not Carter’s best friend.

I looked at the drawing, which strongly resembled Carter from the eye and hand of a third grader, then read the words. It was a description of Carter. It was sweet and kind and generous, written in the best third grade script I had seen.

I sent Carter a photo of it and asked her if she had ever seen it or remembered the assignment. She had no clue about it, but also thought it was so nice.

You never know how people see you. Just like you never know what affect you have upon other people. Both kind and hurtful words stick. It is nice to learn later the good things, but it is best to try and be kind in the first place.

Madi was always a nice person and has grown up to be as thoughtful and kind as she was in third grade. She is in medical school now and I venture to say she has better than average handwriting for a doctor.

I appreciate Andy sending me this. It is nice even all these years later to see evidence of kindness in children. It’s not a surprise coming from Madi.