What the tide teaches us

I have been meaning to share this story...

A couple of beach trips ago I was happily capturing The Littles playing in the surf...

When I noticed out of my peripheral vision some commotion....

A group of kids had found a lame bird struggling in the surf and were eager to protect it.

Upon closer inspection they discovered that his left foot was completely entangled in thick fishing line and that the hook was attached all the way up into his chest. Fortunately a Ranger was cruising the beach in his truck and the kids sent for help.

He donned some gloves and his bird rescuing skills (a distraction with the left hand and then a quick grab of the neck with his right) and carried him off to a special box in his truck.

The kids then watched as he drove away.

They stood there and talked about what had happened, reliving the moment they saved a bird from likely death. It feels good to be a hero and I was glad they experienced that pride of doing something good, protecting life. I also thought it cool that the adults stopped and watched these kid-heroes. True examples. I am such a sap for moments like this. I have an overly sensitive spot for anything that embodies life. (I cried one time when I salted a snail, sizzling the life right out of him.) And I also love it when kids rise to amazing heights of maturity and thoughtfulness.

I know from experience that kids learn to do random acts of kindness because they witness them first. Maybe from a relative, a neighbor...but mainly from us, their parents. Somewhere in the course of their maturation we teach them that life matters (or doesn't) and that their actions and choices (such as throwing garbage into the ocean, hurting someone, our selfishness, or simply not caring at all) have consequences that touch more than themselves. 

It is such a basic truth that I often deny: my choices are like the tide, they roll out and touch my children, my family, my neighbors, my community, my nation, my world. 

I am not an island.

What I do (and don't do) matters.
And I am teaching this truth to my children whether I realize it or not.

Food for your weekend. :) See you Monday...
xoxo