Last week my school participated in a national project spreading happiness; called The Happiness Sprinkling Project. As a school, we spent one morning standing on the side of the street holding up signs of love and joy. Some of the signs were bigger than the child holding them and others were in a different language, but regardless, the common message of joy, support and love was received.
I know this for a fact because according to one 3rd grade student we received 136 honks in a 25 minute period. I would let you do the math, but I’ll save us all some time and just tell you the answer; our community LOVED what we were doing. Not only did the community love it, the students did also. I could see it through the smiles on their faces and the screams emanating from their souls. The kids were so happy to be sharing a smile and a laugh to others.
I. Loved. This. Day. I love to smile and I love to make others smile. I feel that there is so much to be learned from the simple act of smiling. It is also really hard to not smile back at someone, especially people who are obviously having a great time! So regardless if the people passing us by were having a good or bad day our school was putting happiness out in the universe. Once something is in the universe I believe it is bound to happen. Just like when you begin to feel the symptoms of a cold, my dad always says ‘say you are not getting sick, that you feel fine’ and somehow you don’t get quite as sick.
For how great the whole day was, I know the single moment that stands above all else. I was assigned to support a kindergarten and a 5th-grade class while they spread happiness. The teachers asked each of the 5th-graders to pair up with a kindergartener to be their buddy, to hold hands while we crossed the street and to give each other a chance to interact with another student.
We were on our way down the street, I was walking next to a kindergarten and 5th-grader who were assigned to be buddies. They were not talking unless I said something, they weren’t holding hands without a reminder as we crossed the street. Essentially they were just two boys sharing the sidewalk without much regard for the other.
This continued on until we got to our destination. As we were standing on the sidewalk holding our signs these two boys stood near each other. This could have been by chance, but from the looks the kindergartner was giving the 5th-grader, watching his every move I could see admiration and awe in his eyes.
This 5th grader, who was probably annoyed having to ‘babysit’ another had done something to make the kindergartener stare. And still, they said nothing. When their turn was up, and it was time to go back to school the boys quietly passed their signs back in, picked up their jackets and got into line. This time, I didn’t have to ask them to stand together, they were already there. I didn’t have to ask them to hold hands when we crossed the busy street, they reached for each other. On our walk back, there was no more silence now there was chatter. The boys were talking to each other, showing interest in what the other had to say; even if it was about the grass. Their faces had giant smiles on them and I could tell they were truly happy to be in each others company.
This is my favorite moment from the day. Neither boy is perfect, both can have an attitude and want something their way. However, both benefited greatly from spreading happiness to others. This moment of time just goes to show how much a smile and kind note can do for another. It shows the importance of having a new friend and someone who will listen to you.
This epitomizes the power of a child and the power of a smile.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
