“Lunchtime Kindness,” Friend, May 2024, 36–37.
Lunchtime Kindness
Would the other boys make fun of him too?
This story happened in the Philippines.
Dave heard his mom knocking on his bedroom door. It was time to get up. He rolled out of bed and washed his face. Then he joined Mom, Dad, and his siblings in the front room.
“Good morning,” Mom said. Dave smiled sleepily. The family knelt, and Dad said a prayer to start their day.
“I want to share a great scripture this morning,” Mom said. She opened her Book of Mormon. “This is Moroni 7:45. ‘And charity suffereth long, and is kind.’”
Dave thought about the scripture as he got ready for school. Before he walked out the door, he said a prayer. “Please help me be kind today,” he prayed.
In class, Dave felt happy as he did his schoolwork. He listened carefully as Teacher Frida gave them some new spelling words to learn.
Soon it was lunchtime. Dave bought some caramelized sweet potatoes and some cold juice. He sat down with his friends and started talking.
Soon he heard some kids at the next table. Two boys were teasing a newer boy named Jose. Jose was small for his age, but he was nice to others and worked hard in class. The other boys had lunches, but Jose didn’t.
“Why are you so small? Don’t you have food at home?” asked Antonio.
Dave turned toward the boys just in time to see Joaquin take Jose’s bag and throw it to Antonio. Jose ran after Antonio to get his stuff back.
“Please give me my bag,” Jose said.
But Antonio and Joaquin didn’t listen. “Your bag is so old and ugly!” said Joaquin.
Dave heard all these mean words, but he was nervous to help Jose. What would the other kids think? Would Joaquin and Antonio make fun of him too?
Then he thought about the scripture Mom read that morning. Charity is kind. Jesus Christ would want him to be kind. It was the right thing to do.
Dave stood up and faced the other boys. “Stop teasing Jose. Please give him back his bag.”
“What’s your problem?” asked Joaquin.
“Why are you being so mean to Jose? He didn’t do anything wrong,” Dave said. Then he took a deep breath. “Jesus loves us all, and He wants us to be kind. Please stop teasing Jose. Bullying is wrong. If you keep doing it, I’ll get Teacher Frida.”
Antonio looked down at his shoes. He gave Jose back his bag. “Sorry,” he mumbled. He and Joaquin went back to their seats.
“Thanks,” Jose said.
Dave patted Jose’s shoulder. “We’re friends now.”
Jose smiled.
At home, Dave told his family what happened.
“That wasn’t easy, but you did the right thing,” Dad said.
“I’m proud of you for being kind,” Mom said.
The next day as Mom helped pack his lunch, Dave asked, “Can we please make two sandwiches?”
“Why? Are you that hungry?” Mom asked.
Dave laughed. “No, but yesterday I noticed Jose had no food. I want to share some of mine.”
“That’s a great idea!” Mom got out more bread and Dave made another sandwich.
At lunchtime, Dave and Jose sat and ate their sandwiches together. It had taken courage to stop the other kids from bullying Jose. But Dave loved his new friend, and he knew Heavenly Father was happy he had chosen to be kind.
Illustrations by Mark Robison