Decency: A Lesson from the Sands of Time

Dear friends, today I want to share a story with you, a story that taught me a valuable lesson about decency. It’s a tale from my childhood, a memory as vivid as the bright summer sun. It’s the story of a day at the beach, and a sandcastle that was more than just a pile of sand.

The Day at the Beach

It was a hot summer day, the kind where the heat seems to shimmer off the pavement. My family and I had taken a trip to the beach, a small, quiet place where the waves lapped gently at the shore. I was just a boy, full of energy and excitement, and I had one goal in mind: to build the biggest, most impressive sandcastle anyone had ever seen.

The Sandcastle

With my little shovel and bucket, I set to work. I scooped and shaped, built and rebuilt, my little hands working tirelessly under the hot sun. Hours passed, but I didn’t notice. I was too engrossed in my task, too determined to create my masterpiece.

Finally, it was done. A towering sandcastle, complete with turrets and a moat. I stood back, proud of my creation. But then, something unexpected happened. A group of older boys came by, laughing and joking. One of them, the biggest of the lot, kicked my sandcastle, reducing it to a pile of rubble in an instant.

The Lesson

I was devastated. I felt a hot rush of tears, but I held them back. I looked at the boy, and then at the ruined sandcastle. Then, I did something that surprised even me. I picked up my shovel and started rebuilding.

The boy watched, his laughter fading. He seemed confused, unsure. Finally, he walked over and, to my surprise, he started helping me. We worked in silence, and by the end, we had built a sandcastle even grander than the first.

That day, I learned a valuable lesson about decency. It’s not about retaliation or revenge. It’s about rising above, about showing kindness even when it’s not returned. It’s about rebuilding, even when others tear down. And sometimes, it’s about helping others see the value in building, rather than destroying.

So, my friends, let’s strive to be decent, to build rather than destroy, to show kindness even when it’s hard. Because, in the end, our actions define us, not the actions of others.

Until next time,

Kev