While lying on Grandma’s lap, Jake asked her, ‘Am I a good person?’ She looked at him in surprise and asked, ‘Why do you ask that, my child?’ Jake’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling as his mind drifted back to a gloomy Monday morning. He was sitting in the backseat of the middle row in his classroom. His classmates were discussing a project the teacher had assigned, but no one had invited him to join them.
Jake sat quietly, observing everything around him. His ears perked up when he heard one of his classmates say, ‘Let’s not include him. He is so rude and never talks to anyone. I’m pretty sure he thinks he is better than everyone else.
‘Jake, Jake! Where has your mind wandered off to?’ Grandma asked, lightly patting his head. Jake snapped back to reality at the sound of her voice.
‘Nowhere, Grandma. It’s just that I know I’m not a good person. I don’t have any friends and my classmates think I’m rude. They don’t talk to me, maybe because I’m difficult to talk to. Perhaps I’m selfish. Am I?’ Grandma looked him in the eyes and asked, ‘Is this what is making you think so little of yourself today?’ Jake shrugged and asked again, ‘Why? Isn’t this enough?’ Grandma smiled and gently stroked his hair, offering him reassurance and comfort.
She replied, ‘Not having friends or worrying about what people think of you doesn’t make you a bad per-son. You’re an introvert, which can make it difficult to make friends, but I’ve seen how hard you’ve tried to step out of your comfort zone and make friends. You’re not rude or difficult to talk to; you’re just someone who takes a little time to open up.
You don’t have to force yourself to be loud or outgoing. Love yourself for who you are. There’s nothing wrong with you. And as for a friend, I think you already have one,’ she said, pointing to herself.
Jake listened to Grandma’s words, his shoulders slowly relaxing. A faint smile appeared on his face.
Grandma continued, ‘As for being selfish, I don’t think a selfish person would care about others or think about how they feel. My child, I’ve seen how you help someone without taking credit, how you leave food out for stray cats and how you defend others when they’re not around.
Jake was surprised. He hadn’t expected Grandma to have noticed these little acts or considered them good deeds. He had never thought of them as anything special.’You don’t become a good person because someone labels you as one. You become a good person because of the goodness within you, and the small, noble things you do are perfect examples of that.
Jake replied, ‘Thank you, Grandma. I needed someone to tell me that.’ With a shy smile, he added, ‘Maybe I’m not that hard to get along with after all.
Grandma smiled softly and replied, ‘You never were. You just need someone willing to listen and remind you that self-belief and confidence are very important.
The conversation with his grandmother proved comforting. For the first time in a long while, Jake felt under-stood rather than judged. He realised that he didn’t have to become louder, more outgoing or different just to be accepted by others.
If others misunderstand him, he will let time take its course. He doesn’t have to prove himself to anyone. He will continue doing his part, regardless of what others think.