When Joe decided to grow his hair, his classmates started making fun of him. One of his teachers, Mr. Cooper, was a man of conservative values, and he even encouraged the jokes against Joe. But one day, Joe’s father found out about the situation, and he did something shocking.
“What are you doing with that ponytail? Are you a little girl?” Mr. Cooper sneered when Joe walked into his classroom on the first day of school. The rest of his classmates laughed, and Joe looked down in shame. But he knew he had to keep growing it. He had his reasons. No one would dissuade him, not even the worst teacher in the school.
Joe had started growing his hair the previous school year. No one paid too much attention to it then because the summer holidays had begun. But now that he was back, everyone saw how overgrown his hair was because he kept it in a ponytail.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Unfortunately, the comments didn’t stop, and the other boys in class started teasing him every day. The poor eight-year-old returned home every day in tears, but he never told his parents what was happening. They tried to let it go, and Joe started hiding his tears in the bathroom at some point.
Joe’s father got out his phone. He loaded the video they shot the night before and showed it to Mr. Cooper.
Their art teacher, Mrs. Burns, was somewhat new at the school, and she found Joe crying one day after everyone left for recess. “Joe, what’s going on? Why are you growing your hair so long?” she asked kindly.
He finally felt compelled to tell someone about it, and when he finished, the gentle teacher gave him a huge hug. “You have a beautiful heart. Don’t ever let anyone else change that, okay?” she told him encouragingly.
“But even Mr. Cooper makes fun of me. It’s not fair,” Joe mumbled. His tears had finally stopped, thanks to her kindness.
“Some people will always be bullies even when they grow up. I’ll try to talk to him,” Mrs. Burns replied, patting his shoulder.
“Don’t tell him why. He doesn’t deserve to know anything. This is my thing,” Joe requested, looking at the teacher with his earnest eyes.
“Of course. This will be between you and me. But what you are doing is nothing to be ashamed of,” the teacher assured him.
“Still. I don’t want them to know,” the little boy insisted, and Mrs. Burns nodded with a slight grin.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
***
Over the next few days, Mrs. Burns talked to teachers about the situation, but the truth is that all of them didn’t approve of the hairstyle. They thought Joe’s parents were wrong for not getting it cut.
The math teacher, Mrs. Figgins, complained, “If he’s allowed to grow his hair out at eight years old, he’s going to become a hoodlum in high school. Kids, especially boys, need discipline at this age.”
Mrs. Burns had no idea what to do. She didn’t have seniority at this school and Mr. Cooper was the most respected teacher there. Furthermore, she couldn’t tell them the real reason because of Joe’s request. Maybe calling his parents would be a better option, she thought. If things didn’t get better soon, she might have no choice.
***
“Joe, come down here!” Joe’s dad, Patrick Perkins, called out one night.
“What dad?” Joe said when he reached the kitchen. He had been doing his homework.
“Your teacher, Mrs. Burns, just called. She told me everything. Are the kids making fun of you? Is that why you’ve been crying every day after school?” Patrick inquired, kneeling before his son and looking at him.
The boy pouted his lips, and his eyes watered too. “It’s not just my friends. Mr. Cooper is the worst,” Joe revealed, shocking his father.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“What?” Patrick said, shocked. He couldn’t believe it. He knew Mr. Cooper and had talked to him before. He was an older fellow, a veteran, and a well-respected man in their community. Of course, everyone knew he was conservative, but he didn’t think he would go as far as to make fun of a child for their hair.
Joe nodded, and his dad asked, “Why didn’t you tell them why you’re growing your hair?”
“It’s not their business,” the little boy said, and Patrick nodded this time. It was utterly true. No one else needed to know about it.
“You are completely right, kid. But you know something. I believe it’s time to cut that hair. You’ve finally reached the required length, and I have a plan,” Patrick stated, smiling at his son, who got excited about reaching his goal.
Patrick called his wife, Rosie, who placed Joe’s hair in a proper ponytail, and she cut it completely, saving the hair for their particular plan. Patrick had been recording it on his phone the entire time and even asked Joe to say something to commemorate the moment.
***
“Finally, Joe! You no longer look like a girl!” Mr. Cooper bellowed when Joe walked into class, but he didn’t expect to see Patrick there too.
“Mr. Cooper,” Patrick muttered, looking sternly at the teacher.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Oh! Mr. Perkins! So, you finally got your kid a haircut? Congrats!” the teacher said with a smile, extending his hand to shake Patrick’s.
Instead of shaking Mr. Cooper’s hand, Joe’s father got out his phone. He loaded the video they shot the night before and showed it to Mr. Cooper. The teacher’s eyebrows rose as he watched it, and Patrick started speaking so that all the kids could hear him.
“Mr. Cooper, I understand you have been encouraging the jokes against my son. I would’ve never imagined that from you, sir,” Patrick said sternly.
The older man swallowed thickly, and it seemed he got emotional. “I had no idea he would be donating his hair to cancer patients.”
The kids heard that and raised their eyebrows at Joe in surprise and admiration.
“Yeah, well. Joe didn’t want to tell anyone until he reached his goal. We visited a children’s hospital and did some volunteer work last April. He loved it and started growing his hair right away. But this school year, he started coming home in tears because everyone made fun of him, including his teacher. Do you think that’s fair, sir?” Joe’s father reprimanded the older man, who looked extremely ashamed of his actions.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“I’m… so sorry, Joe. Mr. Perkins, I had no idea. My… granddaughter just went through several rounds of chemo, and she lost all her hair. My son and daughter-in-law had communicated with this foundation that makes wigs from donations,” Mr. Cooper sadly stated to Joe’s father and the kids in class. Then he approached Joe, who was already sitting at his desk.
“Thank you, kid. Not all heroes wear capes,” Mr. Cooper offered. “I was so wrong. Please, forgive me.”
Joe only nodded and smiled at the older man and Patrick finally reached out and shook Mr. Cooper’s hand. “I’m glad we’ve settled this. See you later, son,” he waved at Joe and left the classroom.
The rest of the day, all the kids asked Joe about his donation and what it was like. The boys started talking about growing their hair too, and the girls wanted to join in. They had learned a huge lesson that day.
What can we learn from this story?
- It’s best not to judge anyone on their appearance. Everyone has a right to express themselves, and no one has the right to mock them for it.
- Doing something charitable can inspire others to do the same. Joe’s act of kindness and generosity rubbed off on his classmates who also wanted to do the same.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who adopted a little boy she found abandoned on the side of the road.
GROWING PAINS” STAR KIRK CAMERON’S 31-YEAR MARRIAGE SECRETS REVEALED
Kirk Cameron was once a beloved Hollywood star, famous for his role in the 1980s hit TV show “Growing Pains.” He was a charming teenager who many girls admired.
But over time, Cameron’s image changed. He became very outspoken about his Christian faith and chose a different path from many of his former co-stars. His focus shifted from Hollywood fame to living a Christ-centered life with his wife, Chelsea Noble, and their six children.
Cameron and Noble have been married for 31 years. They have raised their kids in a home centered around their Christian beliefs. Cameron loves his wife deeply and is committed to her alone, refusing to kiss anyone else.
Many Hollywood celebrities think Kirk Cameron is too religious. They criticize and make fun of him because he openly shares his Christian faith.
Cameron’s recent acting and directing projects have strong Christian messages, which has made him less popular with some of his old fans. He himself has said:
“I’m kind of a Hollywood freak. I didn’t turn out like most people in this industry.”
Despite this, Cameron is well-loved by conservative Christians who appreciate his strong beliefs and the way he lives his life.
Before finding Christianity, Cameron was an atheist and his family didn’t go to church. One day, he went to church with a friend’s father and realized he was on a path to hell, which made him rethink his life.
Now 52, Cameron has made a vow to only kiss his wife, Chelsea Noble, and not any other women. His faith has deeply influenced his life, leading him to marry his “Growing Pains” co-star and build a family with her.
Kirk Cameron married his “Growing Pains” co-star Chelsea Noble after finding faith. They live in Los Angeles, close to the Hollywood sign, and have a big family.
The couple adopted four children: Jack, Isabella, Ahna, and Luke. They later had two biological children, Olivia and James. Chelsea Noble, who was adopted herself along with her brother, wanted to adopt before having biological kids so that their adopted children would know they were their first choice.
Noble says that, for her, there is no difference between her adopted and biological kids. She feels a special bond with all of them, which she believes comes from God. “It’s been an incredible journey,” she says. “You sort of forget who is adopted and who is not—it’s just your family.”
Cameron, who has a multi-racial family, wants to protect his children. He believes in using technology but advises families to set limits to ensure it doesn’t take over their lives.
Kirk Cameron, known for his role on “Growing Pains,” has become a strong advocate for family and marriage. After becoming a Christian, he married his “Growing Pains” co-star Chelsea Noble. The couple adopted four children and had two more together. Their adopted kids are Jack, Isabella, Ahna, and Luke, and their biological kids are Olivia and James.
Chelsea Noble shared that she was passionate about adoption because she and her brother were both adopted. She and Kirk wanted to adopt first so their adopted children would know they were their first choice. Noble feels deeply connected to all her kids, saying it doesn’t matter if they are adopted or biological; they are all her family.
Kirk and Chelsea have raised their kids in a Christ-centered home and have taught them to love and understand each other, emphasizing that families come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.
Kirk is also focused on helping families navigate the challenges of living in a technology-driven world. He advises setting boundaries with technology to protect children and maintain strong family connections.
Their daughter Isabella once shared a heartfelt Instagram post, thanking her parents for adopting her and her siblings. She expressed her love for her family and her gratitude for their faith. Ahna, another daughter, praised Kirk on Father’s Day for his love of God and family.
Kirk and Chelsea married in 1991 after meeting on the set of “Growing Pains.” They have been strong advocates for marriages built on Christian principles, encouraging couples to focus on their own responsibilities and follow the guidance found in the Bible. Kirk believes many marital issues arise when spouses blame each other instead of addressing their own faults.
Kirk Cameron has shown his commitment to his marriage through both words and actions. In 2008, while promoting his movie “Fireproof,” Cameron was supposed to kiss an actress in a scene. However, he had made a vow not to kiss anyone other than his wife. To handle this, the filmmakers dressed his wife as the movie’s female lead and shot the scene in silhouette.
Cameron explained that when he kisses his wife behind the scenes, it feels like they are honoring their marriage. He chose “Fireproof” because it reflects his beliefs and his love for his wife.
Cameron and Chelsea Noble have been married for 31 years. In 2020, he shared a throwback picture from their 29th wedding anniversary and wrote, “So thankful that after 29 years and turning 50, Chelsea still hasn’t turned me in for a newer model! #grateful.”
Kirk and Chelsea see marriage as a sacred and precious thing. Despite the trend of divorces in modern society, they believe marriage should be cherished and celebrated.
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