It seems more and more we are seeing a need for a change in our world and in our hearts. As a mother, it worries me to see the rage all around. It seems people are angrier than ever. We are less tolerant and there is less kindness than ever in our world. And this is creating a very scary world for our children.

I do not recall violence in my school. I cannot recall ever having to worry about a school shooting. When I think back to the world I grew up in and compare that to the world my son is growing up in, it troubles me.I want my son to go to school and be happy. I want him to have friends. I want him to treat everyone kindly and in return be treated kindly as well.

That word…kindness… seems so important right now. I have always taught Joseph to be kind. To be kind to everyone. I have taught him throughout his almost 5 years in this world, that everyone deserves a smile. I have taught him that everyone deserves a kindness. Everyone deserves kindness as does he.

My contributions to this world is to try my best to bring up a kind human being. I want my son to grow up to be a gentleman. A man that respects women. A man that respects everyone. I want him to understand that you never really know what is going on in anyone else’s world. They may seem fine on the outside, but you never know what is going on inside.

For this reason alone, I think kindness is so important. It is my belief, my hope… that if we just treat everyone with a little more kindness it may help heal this very angry world we live in. It certainly needs to heal in order to allow our children to grow up to be happy and secure.

Kindness is a very strong word. I believe kindness can help change our world. You may call me naive, but I do believe it and I am teaching my son to believe the same. I am teaching him the strength of a smile. The power of a kind gesture. I am teaching my son that kindness opens hearts and creates acceptance.