Day 619

This boy walks though the doors at a local elementary school and the Paparazzi are in full force! Office personnel, teachers and students call out his name and wait their turn to simply touch him. Off to his beloved Sarah's office where Milk Bones await and then down the hall to meet with our first classroom of first graders. Not one individual can ignore him from the time he enters the building until our exit. He is beloved.

As I watch the interactions with Ranger, his face exudes kindness. Looking each person in the eye, he radiates a gentle aura that draws you in. After we share a book with each classroom, the students line up for a "meet and greet" where they get to have a moment with the big Golden. As the year progresses, there are fewer pats on the head and more hugs.

The topic of our book today was kindness. In a cute format, animals shared different ways to express kindness to others. After the story was over, I had the students think of ways they could share kindness with the world. The hands flew up and almost every child wanted to share an idea.

*Opening doors

*Sharing toys

*Including lonely classmates

*Carrying in groceries

*Allowing others to go first

*Picking up something that was accidently dropped

*Offering compliments

*Saying thank you

*Offering help to someone who has fallen

*Looking for a lost treasure

The list went on and on until I needed to move to the next room. What a joy! What hope for the future! What beautiful children!

As Ranger and I made our exit from the last room, a young girl ran to the door and opened it for us. In awe of the moment, I told her she was amazing and her kindness was so appreciated. Her smile was beautiful!

We are the models for the next generation. They are ready to soak it up. Their gentle love for Ranger and eagerness to share kindness touched my heart.

Kindness...if you want to know how to go about it, just ask a first grader!