Not everyone learns at the same pace. I love learning, but there are some things that take me longer to learn and I know this. I know that there’s always this learning process that will seem chaotic to me at first, but I’ll eventually get it if I stick with it. Time and again, I’ve learned things this way. On the other hand, there are things that come easily to me, like reading and writing, that are challenging to other people. And the things I’m slow to learn? There are people who race through that kind of stuff. We all have different abilities and where you lack, another person may be strong and they can help you. It’s important to always be willing to share your gifts with others because you never know when you’ll be on the other end of this equation. Enjoy the heartwarming story below.
Until about 5 years ago, I had always been the slow child. My parents were unforgiving of my shortcomings and bullied me for it.
When I was seven I was in a bad state. My parents were always calling me retarded because I was seven and I still couldn’t read. My brother and sister could read well before then and I was always in their shadows.
I was at school another terrible day, as I had been kicked out for acting up. The teacher had called me retarded and I ended up throwing a can of pens at her. She told me to go into the hall. I sat there crying because I knew this would get back home until a woman in what must have been her early 30’s asked me why I was crying.
For some odd reason, I poured my soul out to her. Every last frustration came out and all she did was nod and listen. She went to talk to my teacher and I was allowed back in class. She was a parent that was just visiting but, I feel she was a true savior.
Every day after that day she would call my mom and I would stay after school where we started reading lessons. It was hard but she was nothing short of an angel. In the span of 3 weeks, I was reading Frog and Toad, my first chapter book. By the end of the class, I was reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland without a single flaw.
On the last day, I ever saw this woman who had shown me more kindness then anyone blood related she left me with presents. She had gotten me all of The Lord of the Rings books, all of Frog and Toad and as a joke, she got me On the Shoulder of Giants.
To this day I have every single book she gave me but I also have something more. I got the gift of knowledge and the chance to learn from her. It’s a shame I don’t remember her name because I would repay her ten thousandfold. She worked with me and later in my life I was no longer considered slow. I don’t see my family much anymore but, she is always on my mind because I feel she was the only person who truly loved me. Kindness is mankind’s only redeeming factor. Do not underestimate it.
