Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I often show my middle school students inspiring videos to start their day. I never know which ones will make a huge impact, but I know they always reach the kids on some level. I recently showed my kids THIS video, where the resounding message was "I am enough." 

When the video was over, I went around our circle and had each child say out loud, "I am enough." It was amazing to see their backs straighten and their faces brighten as they affirmed this for themselves.

Well, I posted about this on my Facebook page and how blessed I felt to get to work with such open-hearted, amazing kids. A friend of mine saw the post, watched the video, and felt moved. So moved, in fact, that a few days after I had posted I went to my mailbox and discovered a beautiful ring stamped with "I am enough." I instantly teared up because it was such an incredible gift of kindness, and I recognized how this simple video was rippling. The following day, I shared the story of my gift with my class, and they were just as awed as I was. I thought perhaps the ripples would end there.

But ripples never truly end, now do they?

The following day I was leaving my classroom, and I noticed my warm up white board had been changed. Instead of the instructions I had for the following morning, one of my students had written, "I am enough. You are enough." I loved the addition of "You are enough" because it shows me they are not only thinking about their value but the value of others. How beautiful is that?

Did the ripples end there?

Of course not.

I received an email early the next morning from one of the parents in my classroom. She told me she went in her daughter's room to say goodnight, and found on her easel a picture of hearts and the words, "I am enough, you are enough" surrounding those. I couldn't believe this simple saying was reaching so deeply and so far. It made my heart ache with joy to see once again how blessed I am to get to connect with these kind little souls every day. 

Now, do you suppose the ripples ended there?

Of course not. :)

Yesterday we decided to make valentines for veterans who are currently at the VA hospital. We brainstormed different things we could say, such as "Thank you for your service!" and "We appreciate you!" Not once did we mention our newly beloved phrase. And yet. When I was going through the cards to package them up for the hospital, I discovered to my sheer happiness two cards with the phrase "You are enough" on the front cover. How beautiful for a 10 year old to recognize how important it is to not only find value in others but to remind them of it on a day that is set aside for love and kindness.

We never know the ripples we will set off when we simply reach out to others. In the case of my inspiring middle schoolers, enough was more than enough.