Kids Who Are Different

Here's to kids who are different,
Kids who don't always get As,
Kids who have ears
Twice the size of their peers,
And noses that go on for days.

Here's to the kids who are different,
Kids they call crazy or dumb,
Kids who don't fit,
With the guts and the grit,
Who dance to a different drum.

Here's to the kids who are different,
Kids with a mischievous streak.
For when they have grown,
As history has shown,
It's their difference that makes them unique.

--Digby Wolfe

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Please Look A Little Deeper

Please don't judge me by my face,
By my religion or my race.
Please don't laugh at what I wear,
Or how I look or do my hair.
Please look a little deeper-
Way down deep inside,
And although you may not see it,
I have a lot to hide.
Behind my clothes, the secrets lie,
Behind my smile, I softly cry.
Please look a little deeper,
And maybe you will see
The lonely little girl
That lives inside of me.
Please listen carefully to her-
She'll show that she's insecure.
Please try to be a friend to her
And show her that you are.
Please just get to know her
And maybe you will see
That if you just look deep enough.
You'll find the real me.

--Tiffany Trutenko

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Paint Brush

I keep my paint brush will me
Wherever I may go,
In case I need to cover up
So the real me doesn't show.
I'm so afraid to show you me,
Afraid of what you'll do-that
You might laugh or say mean things.
I'm afraid I might lose you.

I'd like to remove all my paint coats
To show you the real, true me,
But I want you to try and understand,
I need you to accept what you see.
So if you'll be patient and close your eyes,
I'll strip off all my coats real slow.
Please understand how much it hurts
To let the real me show.

Now my coats are all stripped off.
I feel naked, bare and cold,
And if you still love me with all that you see,
You are my friend, pure as gold.

I need to save my paint brush, though,
And hold it in my hand,I want to keep it handy
In case somebody doesn't understand.
So please protect me, my dear friend
And thanks for loving me true,
But please let me keep my paint brush with me
Until I love me, too.

--Bettie B. Youngs

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Smile

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindnesses of friend
and wrote him a thank-you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank-you
that he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress, surprised by the size of the tip,
bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings,
and gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was grateful;
for two day's he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
he left for his small dingy room.
(He didn't know at that moment
that he might be facing his doom.)
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
and took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very grateful
to be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fine.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked 'til he woke the whole household
and saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
that hadn't cost a cent.

--Barbara Hauck 

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Give Random Acts Of Kindness A Try

One dismal evening, just a few months ago,
When the sky was dark and the streets were covered with snow,
I had nothing specific in mind and wasn't sure what to do,
Since it was one of those chilly nights that leave you feeling a bit blue,
I shuffled through a few papers and picked up a book
And without giving it much thought, decided to take a look.
It was one those volumes filled with dozens of stories
That told tales of victories, failures, and specials glories.
There was an account of a boy who went to school and learned,
And another of a girl who got the toy for which she yearned.
Then I came to a story about someone just like us
Who decided to spend a day doing random acts of kindness.
Every thoughtful gift and kind word said with grace,
Brightened someone's day and left a smile on their face.
I sat back to ponder the story and came up with a a thought-
If everyone tried to share some happiness and kindness sought,
Wouldn't our world be so much more pleasant than it is now
When a few more smiles and time for others we'd allow?
I baked a batch of cookies today, and I know a lady down the street
Who I'm sure would love a few moments' company and a home-baked treat,
And her lonely neighbor who always seems a bit sad and gray-
I think a nice visit from someone would just make her day.
Well, it was starting to get late, so I decided to get some sleep
After I made a list of things to do the next day and appointments to keep.
When I got up in the morning I went to school with a goal in mind-
I would try to cheer a few people up and find ways to be kind.
I bid "Good morning" and smiled at everybody I met.
A few returned the greeting, then our separate ways we went.
Someone dropped their books, so I helped gather them willingly,
And I noticed the more I helped others, the more they helped me!
After I went home I packaged some cookies to share,
Attaching a note that said, "Just because I care."
When they opened the doors, you should have seen their face light with glee
And watched their smiles as they exclaimed, "You mean you came to visit lonely old me!"
Later in the evening, I sat down and wrote a few notes
Wishing the recipient a great week, before sealing them in envelopes.
Then I took a few moments to think about my day
And realized I received even more joy than I had given away;
Because every time you smile or with a cheerful word part,
The warmth of that kindness penetrates into your own heart.
We're only given a short time to spread some cheer before we die,
So why not give random acts of kindness a try?

--Melissa Broeckelman

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