05 Thoughtful Kindness
/05 Thoughtful Kindness
*Ayu is an energetic ten-year-old boy who heard a talk from his teacher at school about “kindness.”
/*Ayu is an energetic ten-year-old boy who heard a talk from his teacher at school about “kindness.”
“Kindness means thinking about others and acting accordingly.
/“Kindness means thinking about others and acting accordingly.
Even small actions have the power to make someone happy.”
/Even small actions have the power to make someone happy.”
On his way home, *Ayu thought, “Can I be kind too?”
/On his way home, *Ayu thought, “Can I be kind too?”
The next day at school, *Ayu saw his friend *Nana doing homework alone in the classroom.
/The next day at school, *Ayu saw his friend *Nana doing homework alone in the classroom.
*Nana looked puzzled as she stared at a difficult problem.
/*Nana looked puzzled as she stared at a difficult problem.
*Ayu hesitated a little but spoke up.
/*Ayu hesitated a little but spoke up.
“Nana, are you okay? Do you want some help?”
/“Nana, are you okay? Do you want some help?”
*Nana looked up and said, “That would be great! But I just can’t figure out this problem…”
/*Nana looked up and said, “That would be great! But I just can’t figure out this problem…”
*Ayu sat next to her and started thinking about the problem together.
/*Ayu sat next to her and started thinking about the problem together.
Then *Ayu thought, “Would *Nana be happy if I just told her the answer?”
/Then *Ayu thought, “Would *Nana be happy if I just told her the answer?”
But at that moment, he realized something.
/But at that moment, he realized something.
“Just giving the answer might not help Nana.
/“Just giving the answer might not help Nana.
She might be happier if she solves it herself.”
/She might be happier if she solves it herself.”
After thinking for a moment, *Ayu said,
/After thinking for a moment, *Ayu said,
“Nana, doesn’t this problem look like the one we did before?”
/“Nana, doesn’t this problem look like the one we did before?”
*Nana smiled and said, “Oh, maybe it does!”
/*Nana smiled and said, “Oh, maybe it does!”
She started thinking about the problem again on her own.
/She started thinking about the problem again on her own.
After a while, *Nana wrote down the answer.
/After a while, *Nana wrote down the answer.
“I did it! Thanks, *Ayu!” she said happily.
/“I did it! Thanks, *Ayu!” she said happily.
*Ayu felt a warm feeling in his heart.
/*Ayu felt a warm feeling in his heart.
That weekend, *Ayu went to his grandfather’s house.
/That weekend, *Ayu went to his grandfather’s house.
In the garden, he saw his grandfather carrying flowerpots alone.
/In the garden, he saw his grandfather carrying flowerpots alone.
*Ayu hesitated again.
/*Ayu hesitated again.
“Would I just get in the way if I helped?” he wondered.
/“Would I just get in the way if I helped?” he wondered.
“But it’s okay to ask,” he thought, and gathered his courage.
/“But it’s okay to ask,” he thought, and gathered his courage.
“Grandpa, isn’t that heavy? Can I help you carry it?”
/“Grandpa, isn’t that heavy? Can I help you carry it?”
Grandpa replied, “Thank you, Ayu. I’d be happy if you helped me carry it.”
/Grandpa replied, “Thank you, Ayu. I’d be happy if you helped me carry it.”
That night, lying in bed, *Ayu thought,
/That night, lying in bed, *Ayu thought,
“Kindness means thinking a little first.
/“Kindness means thinking a little first.
When you try it, both you and the other person feel happy.
/When you try it, both you and the other person feel happy.
I want to keep being kind in many ways!”
/I want to keep being kind in many ways!”
Multiple Choice Review Questions
/Multiple Choice Review Questions
What kind act did *Ayu do for Nana?
/What kind act did *Ayu do for Nana?
a. He gave her a hint instead of the answer, helping her think on her own.
/a. He gave her a hint instead of the answer, helping her think on her own.
b. He did all the homework for her.
/b. He did all the homework for her.
c. He left her alone with her homework.
/c. He left her alone with her homework.
What kind act did *Ayu show at his grandfather’s house?
/What kind act did *Ayu show at his grandfather’s house?
a. He offered to help carry the flowerpots.
/a. He offered to help carry the flowerpots.
b. He just watched his grandfather work.
/b. He just watched his grandfather work.
c. He started playing in the garden.
/c. He started playing in the garden.
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
How do you think *Ayu felt when he gave *Nana a hint instead of the answer?
/How do you think *Ayu felt when he gave *Nana a hint instead of the answer?
Also, what would you do in the same situation?
/Also, what would you do in the same situation?
What are some situations around you where kindness is needed by thinking about others’ feelings?
/What are some situations around you where kindness is needed by thinking about others’ feelings?
Let’s think about what you can do to make both yourself and others happy.
/Let’s think about what you can do to make both yourself and others happy.
