Post by Gladden Ngozi (@Gladden)

A SMILE I DIDN’T GET BACK

This morning, I had an experience that made me reflect on empathy, especially our responsibility toward children.

After dropping my children off at school, I was driving out of the untarred road leading to the school. The road was muddy, with pools of dirty water everywhere.

As I approached the main road, I noticed about six children walking towards me. They were close enough that if I had driven through, I would have splashed muddy water all over them. I had two choices: continue driving and force them further into the bushes, or pause for a few seconds and let them pass safely.

I chose to stop.

An oncoming vehicle was approaching, so I signaled for the driver to wait briefly while the children crossed. I assumed the driver understood why I had stopped.

When the children had safely passed, I turned to the other driver with a warm smile—a simple gesture of appreciation for what I believed was a shared act of consideration.

Instead, I was met with a cold, scornful look.

For a moment, I wondered: Did she not understand why I stopped? Or did she think those few seconds weren't worth giving because the children weren't hers?
The entire delay lasted less than a minute.

That brief encounter left me thinking.

What kind of society would we have if every adult looked out for every child they encountered, regardless of whose child they were?
Children should not have to rely solely on their parents for protection. They should be able to depend on the conscience of every responsible adult they meet.

Empathy isn't measured by grand gestures. Sometimes, it's simply choosing to wait a few extra seconds so a child can walk safely, preserving their dignity as much as their safety.

The children we protect today may not be our own, but they are someone's entire world.

Let's never become so impatient that we lose sight of our shared responsibility to care for one another—especially the most vulnerable among us.

The true test of our humanity is not how we treat our own children, but how we treat children who are not ours.

Have a great day, and always choose empathy.

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