When leaving the store recently, with my armfuls of grocery bag, I was pleasantly surprised by a gentleman opening the door from the other direction. Many of us are too busy to notice acts of kindness, let alone respond to it. When your days are spent teaching, training and guiding little ones in the ways of life, these important life lessons are more visible.
One day at the store I held the door for someone and to my disdain, the person walked passed and didn't even acknowledge my kindness. My little girl looked at me and said, "That man didn't say Thank you!" "I know." I said, jumping on an impromptu teaching moment. "They forgot to use their nice manners, didn't they?" Without missing a beat she said, "Well, we should go in there and tell that person they should have said thank you!" And I was speechless. So she does get it, I thought to myself.
I laugh at all the looks of surprise I get when my little ones use their kind manners. My favorite way to help other parents is by taking a moment to acknowledge their {the children's'} kindness with a simple comment such as, "I like
that you used your nice manners. The older generation, especially seems to notice, and their kind words of encouragement to me, warms my heart and soul. I can only hope they will continue to practice the the art of saying please and thank you.
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