We believe in "catching" kids in the act of being genuinely kind.
Hi,
I used to teach at Legacy HS but am currently teaching out of state. I was wearing my Be Kind shirt in school and I had a 5th grader tell me,
“No, I don’t want to.”
Well, I explained where the shirt came from and we discussed what their Legacy is right now. It made a huge impact on my students. From a very smart alack remark to a lesson in kindness, respect how people view them and their actions.
Thanks, Cindy – Montana
This student was awarded a “Be Kind” t-shirt; this event happened on the first day of school. Her teacher, Mr. Whitley was telling his class about himself. He has a couple of medical issues that he tells the kids about in case he is having trouble in the class. With that, he makes a math problem out of the cost of his medications. He finished by breaking it down to the cost of each pill that is $5.00 each. His class left as did he.
When he came back he saw a $5.00 bill on his desk with a sticky note that said “for a pill”. No name or anything. He was finally able to track her down, and she shyly admitted that she was the one who left it.
He, of course, is framing the $5.00 bill for his classroom wall.
Julia Bush, School Counselor
Burkholder Middle School
The Be Kind Program
By Morganne C., 4th grader
Be Kind has impacted our school, Scherkenbach Elementary in a very positive way by showing people how and to be kind. A few years ago when we did not have the Be Kind program lots of people, including myself were bullied. I did not like the fact that other people and I were being treated this way. By having the Be Kind theme at my school I have not seen or been bullied. When I see someone being nice to me I try to be nice back by commenting on their clothes or saying something random to make them laugh. If we always have the Be Kind program at Scherkenbach, I believe that our school be will be bully-free!
Hello! I met Mr. Stevens at my school, Foothill High School, today, and we discussed how I knew Josh, and how he was so kind to me. He asked me to drop a note on the website. I am so very glad that the Josh Stevens Foundation is finally coming to Foothill. For me, it was truly a blessing to have known Josh. He was a sweet kid.
I met him at Green Valley Baptist, and we went to several of the same youth trips: World Changers, D-Now weekend, and Six Flags. I remember one time when we were at D-Now and we were on a picture scavenger hunt. I was feeling a little left out because I was not quite as vocal as all the other kids on my team. However, Josh plopped a hat on my head (one of the challenges was to take a picture of some team members wearing a hat), and he pulled me into the picture. He was the first one to make me feel included. I remember being surprised because even though he was so much younger than me, he was the one making me feel included. From that moment on, I knew he was a kind person, and he was someone I wanted to be friends with. I am very glad to have known Josh. His death made me take a hard look at life and wonder what people would remember about me once I pass away. It has made me appreciate every day of my life. I believe that although Josh is no longer with us, his memory lives on, making a difference in the lives of people that didn’t even know him, and even spreading the gospel. Thank you for reading my letter. This foundation is truly a blessing.
Sincerely,
Michelle Gabel
The Steven’s family received this today. It made me cry.
Barbara had this to share:
What an amazing gift! One of my friend’s little boy, wrote this in his journal at school the day after Drew came to speak at his school. Wow! This little boy is in 3rd grade… maybe 4th. He truly honored Josh, Josh’s foundation, and our family… Thank you to all of you who have helped to make Josh’s foundation such a huge success!!!
Love, Barbara
Please share this letter; it’s a heart-warming reminder of what the Josh Stevens Foundation is all about!
Each week, we receive many words of encouragement and/or comments on how the Be Kind program has encouraged others. These come through our comment box, so our readers don’t get to see the impact. I think they should; so here is a snippet of encouragement for our readers, today!
Josh Stevens has become a house-hold name in our home. When the kids wear their ”be kind” t-shirts they seem to be a little more kind. When we forget I remind them of the revolutionary, community change that has occurred because of ONE boy. Goes to show you that one boy CAN make a difference in the world.
Mr. Stevens,
It was great to meet you at Bunker ES. Thank you so much for taking the time to come and speak to us…
I will proudly wear my new t-shirt very soon. Once again, thanks.
Regards,
Paulette Allen
Special ”K”
I would like to thank the Stevens family and all of the volunteers that make this foundation possible. It has been great working with Drew and being able to focus on all the positive strengths and attributes that our students exhibit. I cannot say thank you enough for sharing your message with us and millions of others. ”Be Kind” has had a huge impact on both the students and staff at Harney Middle School.
I would like to thank the Stevens family and all of the volunteers that make this foundation possible. It has been great working with Drew and being able to focus on all the positive strengths and attributes that our students exhibit. I cannot say thank you enough for sharing your message with us and millions of others. ”Be Kind” has had a huge impact on both the students and staff at Harney Middle School.
Seeing you yesterday at our school was eye opening. We all need to take more time and love those around us. I when home and told my 3 boys how much I loved them. On my soccer teams we have always had 2 rules Be on time and Be nice. In our classroom we add one more rule try. As my mother always told me ”It does not cost anything to be nice.” Gods speed to you and yours.
We’d love to hear more! Please post your comments below on how “Kind Like Josh” has impacted you or someone you know.
I teach Bible study on Sunday mornings to our youth at church. I love these teenagers with all my heart. It was through this youth ministry that I met Josh. I’ll never forget the first time I met him. Shelbie, his older sister brought him in and sat him down next to her. She put her arm around him and announced that this was her little brother and that he’d be joining us that morning. He wasn’t technically old enough to be in the class yet, but I was touched by how his sister wanted him there, and the smile on his face; so he stayed.
And he was such a blessing to our youth group. His smiles, his enthusiasm for life, his rap songs, and his kindness. Josh was not afraid to seize any opportunity to show Christ to others through his Kindness.
This morning, I taught on seizing the opportunity when God puts it before you. Don’t miss your chance; don’t ignore it, just take the moment, the opportunity, and do something with it!
A little while later, I was helping run the *store* for our Children’s Ministry. Each month, the children have the chance to turn in tickets that they have earned in Bible study for a prize. One little boy in particular wanted the gingerbread man on the parachute. We dug through the bag and gave it to him as we received his tickets. Next came a little girl who only had one ticket, but wanted a two ticket item. She’d already spent two of her tickets, but really wanted the next item on her list. I thought about just giving it to her, but the table was crowded with children who were trying to get there *purchases* in and I felt an *urge* to leave it alone. Very unlike me. *smile*
A few moments later, the boy who wanted that little gingerbread man handed it back to me. He asked if he could please have his tickets back. I was puzzled, but then my heart melted as I watched him hand her his ticket so that she could have the special Christmas bookmark that she wanted.
I so wanted to give him a kindness card, as his special act reminded me so much of Josh; but I didn’t have one with me. But God is good and was showing me something, because there was a Kindness card to be found in the church. I grabbed another gingerbread man on a parachute, the Kindness card, and went in search of the boy, who was just leaving the church. I stopped his mother, and asked her to wait for one moment. Then I asked Jonathan, the boy, if he knew what a Kindness card was. Indeed, he did. I explained to him how wonderful his act of kindness was this morning, and how he had reminded me so much of Josh that it brought tears to my eyes. He smiled graciously, as he took his Kindness card and his gingerbread man.
It is moments like these that we need to seize; exactly what I was trying to teach a roomful of teenagers this morning. Exactly what Josh would have done.
Seize the opportunity; Be Kind and Bless someone else today.
