In the midst of a rainy day, with the little one napping, I decided to reward my son, Noah, for his thoughtful behavior towards his sick sister, who was struggling with an ear infection, by letting him watch a Star Wars movie. As I folded laundry, I casually remarked, “Wow, that Darth Vader really gives me the creeps.” To my surprise, Noah’s eyes widened, and he exclaimed, “Mom, there’s good in Darth Vader! Sure, he’s on the dark side, but he isn’t entirely bad.” This sparked a thoughtful discussion about the duality of good and evil and how every person has the potential for goodness if we take the time to look for it.
Over the past week, I’ve found myself confronted with numerous instances of unkindness. People have been rude for seemingly no reason at all. A nurse was abrupt with me over the phone while I was inquiring about a prescription. A driver honked and shouted at us when I paused to think at a green light, and another individual threw their hands up in frustration as Noah and I crossed a busy street, unaware that we had the walk signal. My son, hearing all these exchanges, simply offered, “Mom, everyone has bad days. Just treat them nicely, and maybe they’ll respond with kindness.” His perspective is a daily reminder that we should strive to treat others with compassion, even when it’s difficult.
Noah also made me reflect on my own behavior. I have been rude without justification, too. I’ve gestured in frustration when someone has failed to follow traffic rules, and I’ve spoken out of irritation. Perhaps the nurse was overwhelmed with calls, or the driver was late to pick up her child after a long day at work. The man who reacted so dramatically might have been dealing with a personal loss. The truth is, we often don’t know what others are experiencing, and we all have moments we wish we could take back. If we’re fortunate, we encounter kindness instead of anger when we falter.
Today, Noah reminded me to approach others with gentleness and understanding. Moving forward, I aim to respond with a smile, even when faced with negativity. Just like he articulated, even Darth Vader has a spark of good within, and perhaps all he needs is a bit of empathy.
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In summary, my son’s innocent wisdom encourages us to embrace kindness and empathy, reminding us that everyone is dealing with their own struggles. By fostering an attitude of understanding, we can contribute positively to the world around us.