At a family dinner, my mother-in-law served everyone her famous lasagna while placing a tiny bowl of lettuce in front of me. With a polite smile, she made a comment about my appearance that felt more hurtful than helpful. I swallowed my discomfort along with the salad, choosing not to respond, but her words lingered long after the meal. I promised myself that next time, I would stand up for myself—with kindness instead of confrontation.
At the next dinner, I arrived with a neatly wrapped gift tied with a soft ribbon. I handed it to her warmly, watching her expression shift from surprise to curiosity as the table fell silent. She opened it slowly, revealing a small book titled Words That Lift Us, filled with encouraging messages and gentle reminders about compassion. For a moment, she simply stared, unsure how to react.
