Kids learning lessons of kindness during the pandemic

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Jehovah’s Witness Public Information Desk

 

Flowers, rainbows and sunny blue skies brighten the sheets of paper scattered across the kitchen table as nine-year-old Beckett carefully folds a handwritten letter and six-year-old Cosette puts the finishing touches on her crayon-colored masterpiece.

The Darling siblings send their letters and homemade artwork to older ones isolated by the pandemic in their small Wisconsin community of Waushara county. “I hope that I’ll encourage them if they are going through a hard time,” said Beckett.

The children’s efforts have touched hearts.

“I enjoy the feedback we have gotten from people the kids have drawn pictures for. Just being able to put a smile on someone’s face makes you feel good,” said the children’s mother, Brittney Darling.

Theirs is one of many of Jehovah’s Witness families using the challenges of the pandemic to help teach their children powerful object lessons in compassion and community service.

Love of neighbor is a central tenet of Christianity for Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is the driving force behind the organization’s public ministry as well as its decision in March 2020 to suspend in-person preaching in response to COVID-19. Since then, Witnesses young and old have shifted to sharing a positive Bible message with their neighbors through letters and phone calls.

In 2013, Jehovah’s Witnesses debuted a video series designed to help parents cultivate qualities like kindness and empathy in young children. The animated adventures of Caleb and Sophia, a lovable brother-sister duo, teach lessons in everything from sharing with others to respecting people of all races.

Melannie Lopez, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, sees the free series on jw.org as a powerful tool in raising compassionate kids.

“The lessons in those videos make deep impressions on Alessa,” said Lopez of her nine-year-old daughter. “She relates to Caleb and Sophia, and they help her see how to apply Bible principles in her own life.”

With her mother’s help, Alessa conquered her nerves and phoned one of her neighbors to share Deuteronomy 31:7, 8: “Be courageous and strong ... [God] will continue with you ... Do not be afraid or be terrified.”

Those words hit home for Alessa’s neighbor, who explained that she was battling metastatic cancer as well as severe pain from shingles. She thanked Alessa for her kindness and invited her to call again with more scriptures.

Hoping to brighten the day for nurses working long hours to fight COVID-19, kindergartener Benjamin Milbradt wrote a letter to a medical center in his hometown of Salina, Kansas:

“Dear Salina nurses. My name is Benjamin and I am five years old. I want to thank you for taking care of people. That can bring stress. Jw.org helps. One day no one will be sick. Isaiah 33:24. Sincerely, Benjamin.”

Soon after, Benjamin received a thank-you letter from the hospital staff, informing him that his note was sent to all 2,000 employees of the hospital system.

“Your letter made so many people smile,” they wrote. “We wanted to make sure you knew how wonderful it was to hear from you. We hope you are doing well, and don’t forget to wash your hands!”

Helping others is also having a positive impact on the young artists and writers, counterbalancing the stress and anxiety many face as the pandemic drags on.

“Social distancing has been hard on the kids,” said Leslie-Anne Weaver, whose family attends the same congregation at the Nordgrens, “but they’ve always enjoyed arts and crafts, so combining that with caring for people has been great for them.”

Her children, Jayden and Asia, like incorporating their favorite Bible verses into cards and artwork. “I’m not the best artist,” said 13-year-old Jayden, “but I really enjoy looking up encouraging scriptures and sharing them.”

Though Jude and Rain miss seeing their friends in person, mom Revien Nordgren likewise credits her children’s compassionate creativity for keeping them in good spirits.

“Despite everything, they’re thriving,” said Nordgren. “They’ve experienced the joy that comes from giving, and that’s a priceless feeling.”

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  • Beckett and Cosette Darling creating colorful artwork for their neighbors in Waushara County.
    Beckett and Cosette Darling creating colorful artwork for their neighbors in Waushara County.