“Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the pleasant land.
Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make this earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.”
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠI don't remember when or where I first came across this simple hymn written by Isaac Watts in the 18th century, but in many ways it summarizes one of the best ways in to teaching our children about compassion, The Country School value for December. By focusing on small and concrete acts of kindness, young children can see how they can make a powerful difference. They can see that actions are what matter most in our relationships with others. They can see that reaching out is within all of our means.
ﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠﾠKindness, caring, considering others' feelings, supporting others' needs, conveying empathy - all parts of compassion, and all attitudes that, even in “little drops,” can lead to strong and transformational currents.