Summer vacation was just a breath away, and the air in Mrs. Sethi’s second-grade classroom crackled with anticipation. Mrs. Sethi had a surprise planned – a “Gratitude Jar.”
Got a good thing?
Big or small?
Write it down, in the jar it goes all!
Gratitude Jar, happy and bright,
Fill it with joy, day and night!
She explained that everyone would write down something they appreciated about someone in the class, fold it, and put it in the jar. After everyone had a turn, they had randomly pick out a note and read it aloud.
A thank you note, a happy thing,
Makes someone’s heart go zing-a-ling!
With colours bright and words so sweet,
An appreciation note cannot be beat!
Priya nervously chewed on her pencil. She appreciated her best friend, Akshita, for always sharing her lunch, but that felt… well, ordinary. Everyone knew Akshita was generous. Priya wanted to express something more profound, something that truly captured her feelings.
Rohan, the class prankster, was already scribbling furiously, a mischievous glint in his eye. Priya suspected his note would be something silly, probably about someone’s funny haircut. She sighed. She wanted her appreciation to be… meaningful.
One by one, the children lined up to drop their folded notes into the jar. There were notes of appreciation for sharing crayons, helping with homework, and even for just being a good friend. Priya listened, her heart sinking. Everything she could think of seemed to have already been said.
Finally, it was Priya’s turn. She hesitated, then wrote quickly, her heart pounding. She folded the note and slipped it into the jar.
After everyone had deposited their notes, Mrs. Sethi began to draw them out, one by one. Rohan’s note, as expected, was a hilarious description of Ritambhara’s “gravity-defying” ponytail. The class giggled. Then, Mrs. Sethi pulled out Priya’s note.
“I appreciate… Rohan,” Mrs. Sethi read aloud, a hint of surprise in her voice.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Rohan, his jaw dropped, looked genuinely stunned.
Mrs. Sethi continued, reading Priya’s words: “I appreciate Rohan because even though he sometimes plays pranks, he always makes everyone laugh. And even when I get annoyed, I know he does not mean to be mean. He just wants to see everyone smile.”
A hush fell over the classroom. Rohan, for the first time that day, was speechless. He looked at Priya, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
Priya blushed, but a warm feeling spread through her chest. She had not just written about Rohan’s pranks; she had acknowledged the positive intention behind them – his desire to bring joy to the class.
The rest of the notes were read, each one bringing a smile or a thoughtful expression. But it was Priya’s note that lingered in the air.
Kind words you wrote, so sweet and true,
Appreciation notes, for me and you!
Friendship’s treasure, you understand,
A thankful heart, and helping hand!
After the bell rang, Rohan approached Priya. “That… that was really cool, Priya,” he mumbled, shuffling his feet. “Thanks.”
Priya smiled. “You are welcome, Rohan,” she said.
That day, Priya learned a valuable lesson. Appreciation was not just about acknowledging the obvious. It was about looking deeper, seeing the good in everyone, even those who seemed different or annoying. It was about recognizing the positive impact people had, even if it was unintentional. And sometimes, a little appreciation, especially for someone who often gets misunderstood, could make the biggest difference. It was not just about making someone feel good; it was about seeing them, truly seeing them, and acknowledging their worth. And in doing so, Priya discovered, she also learned to appreciate the unique qualities of everyone in her class, even the class clown.
The Momma Clan 
Leave a comment