Compliment

When I was a student, I had a new teacher who had just started at our school. One day, she handed each of us a piece of paper and asked us to go around the classroom, writing down at least one positive quality for every classmate—even for those we weren’t close to. We began walking around, trying to think of something kind to write for each person. When the class ended and I looked at my paper, it was filled with words like “kind”, “cheerful” and “helpful”. It made me blush but I was truly happy. This activity had a lasting impact on me. From that moment on, I made habit of noticing the positive qualities in everyone I meet.

Many years later, after I have come to the truth, I thanked my teacher for starting that activity. She told me that at the time, she wasn’t quite sure what to do in class, so she decided to have each of us write something positive about the other person as a way to get to know each other better. The activity had been intended as an icebreaker.

Though the paper has yellowed and the ink has faded over the years, it still brings a smile to my face every time I read it. I am truly grateful and delighted that I can now put Mother's Teaching No. 8 into practice: “When we compliment our brothers and sisters, compliments will return to us.”