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Children, in their wonderful innocence, are wonderful teachers for us all. This tale of compassion truly shows the tenderness of a child.
Working as a sales associate at a large home improvement store, I had to complete daily stocking reports. As I was walking toward the customer service desk to turn them in, I noticed a woman standing in line with a cart full of plants from the garden center. There was a small boy, about 3 or 4, with his hands cupped. The woman was motioning toward me, telling the boy, “Go give it to her.”
He came up slowly with one hand outstretched. There was something on his index finger. I squatted down to get to his level and noticed that it was a small snail. I could barely understand what he said but I knew that he wanted me to take it outside.
Now, I knew that it is considered a ‘pest’. Some people would have crushed the tiny creature immediately, telling the child it was bad and that it had to die. This mother, however, not only respected her son’s compassion, but she showed it to the little snail.
He tried to get it off his finger. It amazed me that he just didn’t try to pick it up. Did he somehow know that to try to do so probably would have smashed it? It fell off his hand and landed on the cement floor. I assured him that it would be OK, that we’d get it. I carefully scooped it up on the papers. It stayed inside its shell for a few seconds, and then stuck its head out. What a tiny thing!
I stood up a bit and told him that I was going to take it outside to be with its friends in the bushes. He smiled and shook his head, eyes gleaming with happiness.
I walked outside with the papers outstretched, across the traffic lane in front of the store to a small median where some low-growing junipers were planted. Carefully I parted their branches and lowered it into the undergrowth. “Be safe, little one.” I said as I turned and went back inside.
The little boy and his mom were still near the checkout. I walked up to him and said “Thank you for saving that snail’s life. That was a very nice thing to do. He is outside in a nice home. He is safe!”
His mom was nodding her head, silently mouthing “Thank you” to me. I winked back, knowing that we had just been taught a wonderful lesson by a child. This was a tenderhearted child, loving unconditionally and unafraid of even the smallest of creatures.
As I walked away I thanked Spirit for this wonderful experience and a beautiful start to my day.
B H May 2006
