When Small Children Teach You A Lesson

Earlier this afternoon, as I walked through the city streets, I witnessed something sad yet beautiful take place.

A small girl, still only an infant, was walking along. She held the hand of her father, who was becoming impatient at how slowly she toddled along.

The reason she walked at such a slow pace was because she has seen something that caused her to tarry. Something that spiked her curiosity, like often happens to a child.

Seeing a man sitting on the floor, she looked to her father for an explanation of what was going on. The man doesn’t have a home, darling. He’s hoping people will be generous and share, darling.

Small children often have a perceptiveness that is lost when growing older. It’s the curiosity to question why. It is strange that this curiosity, so natural to an infant, seems to fade or dull the older we become.

The young girl’s questions sounded out for spectators like me to hear. Why is that man there? Why does he have to sit on the floor and beg?

At that moment I was again reminded of how easy it is to become dumb and senseless to the pains and sadnesses of the world. Not just the world afar, but the world on our doorstep – on the streets, in our towns.

This girl got it. But I, and many others like me, so often don’t. We need to ask why.

The small girl’s eyes were level with the man sitting on the cold pavement. And as the girl gazed at him, he smiled back with kind eyes.