One sunny day, a young 6-year-old girl and her mom were leaving a store. As they walked out, the little girl noticed a man sitting on a bench, tears streaming down his face. Concerned, she turned to her mom and asked, “Did you see that man crying? What’s wrong with him?”
Her mom replied, “Maybe he’s just sad…”
But this compassionate girl didn’t stop there. She thought for a moment and said, “Maybe he’s hot and thirsty. I should go talk to him.” With determination in her eyes, she walked over to the man and gently said, “Hi sir. Be happy. It’s a nice day, it’s not raining. Are you hot? Why don’t you go home? The ground is dirty.”
The man, still touched by her kindness, replied, “I have no home, but I will be okay.”
With sadness in her eyes, the little girl realized that the man was homeless and didn’t have access to food like she did. In that moment, her compassion overflowed. She took a few dollars out of her purse and handed them to the man. She also gave him her drink and said, “Please go eat. It would make me happy. I like McDonald’s, you should go there.”
As it turns out, the man had experienced a devastating fire that had destroyed his trailer, along with everything he owned, including his wife. The little girl’s act of kindness brightened his day and brought hope into his heart.
This incredible act of kindness from a 6-year-old reminds us of the power of compassion. Children see the world without the boundaries of color or prejudice, and that’s exactly how it should be. They hold the key to a brighter future, where kindness and empathy prevail.
