Meeting my Korean student on Sunday evening always provides me with something to think about. One of the homework that I gave her last week is to think back and see if she has learned anything new this week.
She shared this anecdote with me, my five-year-old daughter told my husband, “Dad, you lost your job, but you are still my dad. I still love you.”
This is truly amazing for such a young child to say this when her dad lost his job and the family is in a difficult situation. Despite her young age, she can perceive her father's sadness and provide words of comfort and reassurance.
I told my student that I learned at least two things from this. First, the child's words are an act of kindness, showing that she cares about the emotional well-being of her parent. This level of empathy and compassion in young children is very valuable.
Second, the girl demonstrates resilience during the hardships of job loss. Young as she is, she gives her support in her own way and she offers something in terms of human spirits that we can all learn from -- the power of love and connection and resilience in order to overcome the obstacles.
In contrast, not all adults can behave so well. Many adults may struggle to manage their emotions well during times of financial difficulty, often resulting in arguments, complaints, tension, or stress in the family, making life more miserable than necessary, 雪上加霜 (xuě shàng jiā shuāng).
Most importantly, the young girl's ability to offer support and comfort to her father sets a good example for all of us on empathy, compassion, and resilience in facing life's challenges.