A dose of goodness and sweetness to lift you up [View all]

[Amaryllis]

I live in an apartment community built around a park-like courtyard three blocks long with no streets going through it. It’s very private and secure because you can only access the courtyard through the apartments around the perimeter. There are some families and kids living here and the kids can run free within the courtyard. I’ve only been here six months and have been getting to know the kids and like them.

I was walking in the courtyard and encountered three of the little girls who live in the apartments, ages 6, 7 and 8. They showed me a small dead bird that they’d found and said they wanted to bury it and were looking for a good place. I said, “You could have a funeral for it after you bury it.” They told me they were planning to do that.

I left them looking for a suitable place to bury the bird while I continued on my walk. On my way back, they showed me the place they had found to bury the bird and said they were going to have the funeral now. They seemed to be including me. They were very reverent as they all stood in a circle. The first one said to the bird, “We didn’t know you, but we hope you had a good life.” They each said a few words, and then each said, “Rest in peace.”
I said, “That was a lovely ceremony.” I felt honored to be included in this special and moving moment.

What struck me is how they recognized that the little bird’s life had value and meaning and were acknowledging and honoring that. And their wish for the bird was that it had "a good life." Every time I think about this experience, I feel uplifted. I decided to share the sweetness and goodness with you all in hopes that you too will feel uplifted.