When my sister Nerea was little, our dad found a small bag of coins in her desk and worried she’d stolen it. She explained it was her pay for helping a neighbor, and from then on, she never stopped working or saving. Babysitting, tutoring, small jobs—she quietly built a habit of responsibility and generosity.
Years later, when Dad had a heart attack and money got tight, Nerea stepped up without complaint. At my graduation, she surprised me with money to cover my student loans, smiling and saying, “Remember the coins? This is just a bigger bag.” That’s when I realized how small acts of kindness can grow into life-changing gifts.