More Valentines' Day Kindness

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own."
― Benjamin Disraeli

The day before Valentines' Day, one of my daughters asked me to take her to CVS to buy a couple of cards.  I assumed that she wanted to buy Valentines' cards, but she selected two thank you cards for two teachers at her former school.  She spent time writing long messages in them.

The next day, we went to Mass at her old school.  My daughter had her cards and looked for the two teachers.  After Mass was over, she saw one of the teachers and gave her the card as the teacher walked back to class.  The other teacher was not at Mass, so we went to her classroom and spent time talking with her.  The teacher was clearly moved by my daughter's thoughtfulness and gave her a big hug.

As we drove the few blocks to our house, I received a beautiful e-mail on my phone from the teacher to whom my daughter had quickly handed the card at the end of Mass.  Writing to my daughter, the teacher told her she had been sent "like a Guardian Angel" because she was having a rough week at school and wondering whether she was reaching her students.  The teacher wrote:  "Then, here you come with such kind and loving words that made me realize that, while I may not reach all my students, I have definitely reached some."

I continue to be amazed by the power and serendipitous timing of kindness.  These teachers must obviously have shown kindness to my daughter in their interactions with her.  My daughter, in turn, was kind in letting them know -- and she shared her kindness just when it was needed.  I am proud of my daughter for expressing her appreciation to people who have made such an impact in her life, and I am grateful to the teachers for showing my daughter just how important kindness can be.