The Smallest Encourager

“The princess is standing in the rain, and she doesn’t even have an umbrella!” The little girl’s laughter was contagious as she narrated her drawing.

It was a Wednesday evening, and I was with my young friend and her brothers. I had suggested that we make cards for a boy with an extremely serious medical issue. I had hidden the details and severity from the children, telling them that he felt bad, and was in the hospital. The sister of the group was VERY concerned for him. She nearly cried, and made a suggestion as to what might be wrong. The first card she created included traditional get-well wishes, and flowers she carefully stenciled onto the paper. It was very emotionally supportive, the kind you would want if you needed a heartfelt sympathy card. After that, the kindergartener wrote him a similar letter (with assistance). The last card was, as she said happily, “to make him laugh!” I don’t know for certain whether she accomplished this, but it certainly gave me a lot of joy to watch her create the gift, especially as she explained her art. “The yellow spots are cheese. The princess saw them outside her window!” “Is that why she went out in the rain?” “YES!” she exclaimed, nearly shrieking with delight. “She wanted to eat it!” Her mirth seemed to grow as she added additional details to the page. A duck was stenciled on, “and now rice is falling from the sky!” The colored pencil flew across the green cardstock as the 5-year-old giggled and drew, brightening the mood around her that had been so solemn just minutes before. Her compassion poured out in the form of a picture to cheer a stranger, after first making him a card with somber get-well sentiments.

When I had decided to bring card-making supplies that day, I’d intended for them to be used to cheer up the little boy and help the other children learn practical ways to show kindness. But, “Give, and it shall be given unto you” was in full force, as that time spent watching love poured out by a child is now among my favorite memories.