“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others” – Albert Einstein.
“In a school, the teacher promised the children a reward for getting the first position in a test: whoever came first would get a new pair of shoes. The test took place, and all the children scored the same marks. Since it was impossible to give a pair of shoes to everyone, the teacher asked the children what to do. They all suggested that each child write their name on a slip of paper and participate in a lucky draw, and whoever’s name was drawn would get the shoes. So, they decided to hold a draw and asked all the children to write their names on paper and put them in a box.
The teacher mixed the slips in the box to ensure fairness and then picked one in front of everyone. When she opened the slip, it read “NORA” Everyone clapped, and Wafa, with tearful eyes, stood up to receive her prize. She desperately needed those shoes because she was fed up with her torn, old ones. Her father had passed away, and her mother was poor and helpless, so this prize meant a lot to her.
When the teacher went home, she tearfully narrated the story to her husband. He expressed happiness but asked why she was crying. The teacher broke down, sobbing, and said, “I’m not crying for NORA’s shoes but for the feelings of the other children and my own insensitivity. When I checked the other slips in the box, every single child had written the same name on their slip—‘NORA.’ These innocent children had sensed the pain and helplessness on NORA’s face, but I couldn’t, and I feel ashamed of that.”
One of my teachers used to say that teaching children empathy and practically instilling the lesson of generosity is the best form of upbringing. It’s written in books about many of our ancestors that they wouldn’t distribute charity, alms, or zakat [payment made annually under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes, one of the Five Pillars of Islam] with their own hands; instead, they would give it to children to distribute, so that the spirit of empathy and compassion could be nurtured in them.