The Kindness Bucket

ASK MAMA

Dear Mama,

I need your help, please. My son came home from school today and asked me, “Did any of your friends make fun of you when you were my age?”

My heart broke for him. He is only 8 years old. I answered him, “Why do you ask me that?”

“Well,” he began. “Sometimes my friends laugh at me and say mean things.”

“This brings back a few heartaches of my own. Yes, Bub, they did.” I gave him an extra big squeeze, but I don’t think that helped much. Mama, Is there anything I can do?

Your friend, Bewildered

Dear Bewildered,

It is very upsetting to hear that our little ones are having a hard time. Be encouraged that he is willing to talk to you. That tells me that you are doing something right because he trusts you enough to talk to you.

When Sedwik was young, he came to me with a similar concern.

I started by assuring him, “Donkeys can be cruel at times and it hurts our feelings, but that doesn’t mean that what they say is true.”

He protested, “Mama, I’m no good at anything. My feet are too big and clumsy.”

“That’s not true, Sedwik.” I said. “Some things grow at different speeds and God has a perfect plan for it.”

I introduced the “Kindness Bucket” to him that night. Let me explain. I reminded Sedwik of the parable of the sower, that Jesus taught. We are sowers. Our words are seeds. Each seed reproduces after it’s own kind.

I asked Sedwik, “What will happen if you plant a pomegranate seed?”

He quickly replied, “A pomegranate will grow up and I can eat it, yum.”

“Yes, very good. What about a fig seed, will I get an ear of corn from a fig seed?”

“No, of course not, Mama. That’s silly.”

“Okay, so if I sow a kind word or a kind deed, then what will happen?”

“I think that means that kindness and goodness will grow up, right Mama?”

“Yes Sedwik, that’s right.”

So I introduced, “The Kindness Bucket”.

Sedwik and I filled the bucket with a different item for each of his classmates. Each day he would pull an item from the bucket and choose to show kindness to that classmate all day long.

He got to choose how. Sometimes he would offer to carry their burden or give them a compliment. Other times he would share a treat.

It was up to him, but by the end of the first week, he was so excited.

He said, “Mama I can’t believe it. Kindness is growing up all over the barnyard. I even made some very nice friends.”

“Of course you did, Sedwik. Remember that each seed reproduces after it’s own kind. Some seeds take a little longer to grow and a little more encouragement, but they will grow up in His perfect time.”

“Yes, Mama. I remember.”

So my friend, Bewildered, I hope my story helps you and your child. Try the “Kindness Bucket”. Help your son plant some good seeds.

With Love and Kindness,

Mama