Life Lesson

It may be surprising to hear that my children are not perfect. They have been known to argue and back talk on occasion and even hit (or bite in Ava's case) each other.

One day last week, Chloe hit a classmate. She was mad at something this classmate did or said and being four years old, the most natural method of releasing frustration is through violence.  Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time she had hit this same classmate.  After talking to the teacher (in a Chinese/English/Sign Language mixture) we decided the best course of action was for Chloe's teacher to talk to the boys mother for me.  I graciously accepted the teacher's help for a number of reasons.  The biggest reason being I am unable to speak or understand Chinese over the phone and the boy's family does not speak English.  But also, there are cultural understandings that I still have not grasped.

The teacher called me later that evening and told me that the mother was not mad and was understanding of Chloe's frustration with not being able to express herself in English. I thanked the teacher and was grateful that another cultural faux paus had been successfully navigated.

Little did I know the lesson this boy and his mother would teach me.  The next day Chloe went to school and the boy gave Chloe some candy and two friend cards.  The first card had the boy's name written on it and a message in child's handwriting saying "We are good friends."  The second card was blank and was intended for Chloe to return the gesture.

Immediately I thought about the lesson of returning evil with kindness.  I was humbled by the fact that I moved around the world to minister to people who in many ways understand basic biblical principles as a culture far better than I do.

Because of this mother's small kind gesture, Chloe and this boy are now friends who actively greet each other in the halls.  Chloe says things like "Look mommy, there's James.  He's my friend."

How many instances of bullying in schools would be ended if we could adopt this basic principle of loving those who hate us, cheat us, bully us or wrong us?  In this case, my child was the bully but I learned the lesson.