A wonderful poem which circulated on the internet, was included in various publications which were compilations of heartfelt poems(including the Chicken Soup series) with author listed as unknown found its true author when she got the Chicken Soup book as a Mother’s Day gift from her husband and her children!
This poem was sent to me by my aunt a few years ago and saved in my email archives.The author, Mary Korzan, also has a book with the story and inspiration behind the poem and more about life’s little things that matter.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make my favourite cake for me
and I learned that little things can be special things in life.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to
trust in God.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing
and I learned that those who have something should give to those who
don’t.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it
and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw how you handled your responsibilities even when you didn’t feel
good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it’s all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw
when you thought I wasn’t looking.”
– Mary Korzan
Thanks for this poem and the book link which is new to me. I'm going to copy it out.
@Linda PThank you. This poem definitely makes me pause before I say or do something I should not in front of the kids and makes me try to be in my best behavior more often 🙂