An 8-year-old student in Wichita, Kansas is warming the hearts of people all over the country. Earlier this month Christian Moore’s mom posted a photo of him holding hands with his visibly upset classmate on Facebook. The picture has since received more than 33K reactions and 22K shares.
Though the photo itself is touching, the caption that Christian’s mom, Courtney Moore, attached to it, tells a greater story of humanity. “I’m so proud of my son, he seen a kid balled up into a corner crying, so he went to console him, grabbed his hand and walked him inside of the school!” Moore wrote. “It is an honor to raise such a loving, compassionate child! He’s a kid with a big heart, the first day of school started off right.”
When April Crites, the mother of the crying grade-schooler, saw the post online, she added even more context to what transpired. “Tell your son I said thank you so very much! That little boy he helped is my son and is autistic,” Crites commented on Moore’s post, according to CBS affiliate KWCH-TV. “I worry every day that he is going to get bullied for being different and your son just absolutely warmed my heart. If there were more children like him I wouldn’t worry about such things.”
In an interview with KAKE.com, a local ABC affiliate, Connor told reporters, “He was kind to me. I was in the first day of school and I started crying, then he helped me and I was happy.” He later continued, “He found and held my hand and I got happy tears.”
Though the Minneha Core Knowledge Elementary school students didn’t know each other prior to their now-viral meeting, both Crites and Moore believe that their sons will have a lasting bond.
“It doesn’t matter color, it doesn’t matter gender, it doesn’t matter disability, and it doesn’t matter anything, just be kind, open your heart… it’s what we need in this world,” says Crites.