Ever since I posted this photo on Facebook, I’ve received a lot of likes for it… and even more requests for the back story.
I came to Spaulding Academy in New Hampshire as a CHOOSE LOVE trainer to lead a class about forgiveness – but left having learned far more than I taught. The Academy serves as a remarkable haven for children who have faced significant trauma, and the warmth within its walls speaks volumes about the dedication of its staff and the healing environment they’ve created.
During a classroom visit, I met a student I’ll call Lyle. He approached me with the kind of openness that catches you off guard – chatting about his toys and his daily life with enthusiasm. When he asked if I could have lunch with him, I readily agreed.
Sometimes the most meaningful moments arise from small disappointments. I missed seeing Lyle enter the cafeteria during lunch, and afterward, he found me to say, “Hey, I thought you were going to have lunch with me.” After apologizing, he asked me if I would walk him back to his classroom. The principal gave a quick nod of approval, and we headed out.
What happened next transformed an ordinary school visit into something profound. Lyle reached shyly for my hand, looked up, and said simply, “Walk slow. I have a lot to tell you.” As we made our way down the hall, he shared his story – about his parents in jail, about the sadness in his life. But what struck me most was how he spoke about his “new school”: Spaulding Academy. In his voice, I heard not just the weight of his past, but the hope of his present.
The staff at Spaulding have created something extraordinary – a place where children like Lyle feel safe enough to reach out, to trust, to connect. Their work ripples outward through every child they help, touching lives in ways they may never fully know.
That walk with Lyle lasted only a few minutes, but it reminded me how love moves through the world – often quietly, in small gestures like a child’s hand reaching up to hold yours, or in four simple words: “I have a lot to tell you.” These moments of connection, these ripples of love, continue to move outward, touching everyone they reach and transforming both giver and receiver in unexpected ways.
To learn more about Spaulding Academy and the amazing work they do there, visit: https://www.spauldingservices.org/
To learn more about the CHOOSE LOVE Movement, visit us at https://www.chooselovemovement.org/
No responses yet