Kindness

Let me tell you the story of a little girl at Princess Camp. For the sake of the story, we’ll call her Elaine.

When one of the younger girls was sad, Elaine went over to comfort her. When I left the room, she asked where I was going. When I asked her to share a toy, Elaine didn’t question handing it over. I’m not supposed to have favorites, but she was it. Precious blonde curls and an eager smile. When she first came to camp last year she insisted on being called “Ballerina.”

On the last day of summer camp, the little girls invited their moms or dads to a Princess Tea Party Picnic and everyone gathered around to enjoy cookies, lemonade, and fruit, mostly strawberries, hence the design. This little girl and her mom arrived in grand fashion. She was dressed like Cinderella, which seemed fitting.

They say down, and Elaine turned to her mom.

“Do you want a cookie?” she asked.

I was shocked. All throughout the room the little girls reached for their cookies or pleaded with their moms for a cookie but here was this four year-old thinking of her mom first. I bent down to tell the mother how much I enjoyed having her daughter at camp, and Elaine’s mother couldn’t say enough for how kind her little girl was. Despite only having brothers, she would respond to their roughness with gentleness. She looked out for others first. This wasn’t the only time Elaine first asked to serve her mom and then served herself.

Man, was I convicted. This four-year old showed me more about kindness than most adults I know. In one week, she blessed my heart, loved the other kids, and served her mom. It made me question my own priorities and habits.

Kindness is so simple, a four-year old can display it perfectly, but that doesn’t make it easy. Let this little princess’ life inspire and convict you as it did me. Let us pray for kindness and look for ways to serve others before being served.

”Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph 4:32)

Blessings,

Hannah