Compassion

Today I chanced upon this story on social media:

Josette Duran's emotional Facebook Live video is getting a lot of attention.

She's been packing her son's lunch and an extra one since the beginning of the school year because her son asked her to.

"I'm telling you this is not for praise, but it's pretty intense," Duran said. "He said, 'No, Mom. It's for this little boy at school, and he sits by himself, and all he eats is a fruit cup.'"

The school principal called Duran into the office because that little boy's mom found out Duran had been feeding her son.

"She says, 'I know this isn't much, but I just got a job, and I know you've been feeding my son,'" Duran said.

Duran said she couldn't accept the single mom's money.

The girls' volleyball team Duran coaches also raised more than $400 to pay her back, but she took that money straight to the cafeteria.

"We paid up all the past due accounts for all the kids who need lunch," Duran said as she choked back tears. "So now, nobody in that school owes any money, and now everyone can eat."

Duran found out the little boy's mom lost her job and couldn't afford to pay for his school lunches. It's something, Duran says, she knows all too well.

"This hits home to me because a few years ago, me and my son were homeless," Duran said. "I was living in my car and I was washing him in bathrooms. And we didn't have food."

Not only has Duran taught this school a valuable lesson in compassion and kindness, she's also created a new friendship.

"I have friends, and I'm doing better in school, and you have a great son, and he's my best friend," Duran said.

Source:

http://kcci.relaymedia.com/amp/news/new-mexico-womans-act-of-kindness-goes-viral/42131140

And I saw this amazing comment:

"My son is 11 and one day he came home just full of happiness and he said he's happy and good today and I said well anything happen today, he said yes there was one thing and I said well what,  his words made me cry. He said mommy I gave my lunch to a boy today and I said why did you do that, he said because he owes money to the school and got a cheese sandwich for lunch and a fruit and milk. I said that's not much at all, he said I know so I gave him my lunch and I ate the cheese sandwich so he could eat a good meal. Made my heart melt."

It is indeed a beautiful story to share.

We are so fortunate because we don't go homeless and most of us can afford decent meals both at home and in school. However, many children around the world do not live such fortunate lives. We should all do our part to not waste food and water, and also to show compassion to others.