A kind boy bought new shoes for a classmate and used kindness to silence bullies. When it comes to school, the story is as old as time. A classmate is picked on, bullied, or rejected because their clothes are too small, dirty, or, in this boy’s case, his ratty shoes are falling apart. Romeo Early must be a sensitive soul. Because it deeply bothered him when he noticed classmates making fun of Melvin Anderson for wearing tattered and worn-out shoes.
“I could tell it was bothering him,” Romello explained. “It just made me sick to my stomach to see someone go through that, and to be judged solely on appearance.” He couldn’t get his mind off what he had seen at school. That evening, he brought his heavy heart to his mother and told her about what he witnessed at school. Then he did something unbelievable. He bought new shoes for Melvin with his mother’s permission.
“I had saved up my allowance, so I asked my mom to take me to the shoe store so I could get Melvin some shoes,” he explained. The next day, Romeo brought a brand new pair of shoes to school. He couldn’t wait to show them to Melvin. That day, it wasn’t just Melvin who got a present. Those who were aware of Romeo’s generosity were given the gift of witnessing generosity and compassion in action. When the dean of Romeo’s and Melvin’s school found out, he took to Facebook to share this historic occasion.
“My student Melo told me he was tired of other students picking on Melvin about his shoes,” Bryant Brown, Jr wrote. Melo spent his allowance on Melvin’s shoes. Being that helping hand is what I live for.” Romeo also managed to warm his mother’s heart. “It’s not often that you see children give up their allowance to someone else and that let me know, Romello was protecting and trying to change the narrative for his friend Melvin,” Anita James said when asked about her son’s idea of generously giving to a fellow classmate.
“To be so passionate at the age of 12 says a lot, but Romello is passionate about everything in his life: family, basketball, and friends.” “He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and he who sows generously will reap generously.” Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not what you feel compelled to give, because God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor. 9:6-7