the power of words

via

Last weekend Nic and I went to the store to get groceries for the week.
It wasn't but a few seconds after stepping out of the car that we heard it.
A shouting voice, it was hard to miss.
We both turned and looked.
There was a little boy about 7 or 8 lifting heavy grocery bags from a cart and placing them in the trunk of the car.
His dad ripped the grocery bags out of his son's hands while screaming in his face, "DO NOT look at me like that" and it was as if those words were enough to completely stun me that I had no idea the things he shouted after that.
He made an absolute scene.
And his son seemed to do all he could to fight back the tears.
A million thoughts ran through my mind in that moment but I found myself forcing them away because it was too hard to think about.
Then the boy got in the car and the man pulled away.

***

Ever since this happened I can't get it off my mind.
I keep wondering, more like praying really, that this is not a common thing in this boy's life.
Even more so than that, I keep hoping that it didn't get any worse than yelling when they got home, out of sight from the public parking lot.
The look on the father's face was one of despise. I kept hoping in that moment to notice a glimpse of a bad day but from the way the little boy reacted, it didn't seem that way.
It was heartbreaking and the last few nights I've laid awake wondering how there are so many people in this world who aren't able to have children that would make wonderful parents and others who are given that blessing and do not treat their children the way they deserve to be treated.

***

It also got me thinking about my future students someday and what I would do if I found out something like this was happening to one of them.
And the truth is, I'm not sure what I would do.
I know what I would want to do but I'm not sure what I can do.
I get attached and I've already noticed this about myself.
I care so much about their happiness and success.
It would be a hard thing to know.

***

It doesn't matter who you are in this world, everyone deserves to be treated kindly.
Words aren't empty.
They have so much power and once they are said, they can never be taken back.
I wish that man in the parking lot the other day knew that.
Because if he truly did, I don't think he would have ever said what he did.
It is my hope that people will lift each other up and fill this world with kind words.
I know I need to hear them, and I'm sure you do too.
We all deserve that much.