Kindness for all

At just 8 years old, Samuel Brown, recipient of the 2021 Youth of the Year community excellence award, has already made an impact on the community.

His parents, Daniel and Alysha, said Samuel is blessed with the ability to speak to crowds, among many other talents. “I know how to entertain them,” Samuel laughed.

“He doesn’t have a shy bone in his body,” Alysha added.

But even Samuel admitted he felt some butterflies when he heard his name called as the award winner Monday evening, Jan. 24. “At first I was like, ‘Oh, dear,’ and then I felt calmer as I walked,” he said, adding that he was humbled and honored. “Most importantly, I want our town to know Jesus Christ as their savior by showing his love to others,” Samuel said. “I want to be an example to other kids.”

When Alysha got the phone call from Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Ferguson informing her that he was nominated, she was teary eyed. “It just reassured us that God doesn’t forget Samuel. It was surprising and refreshing that he’s seeing all of this in our special needs family.”

“It was a breath of fresh air,” Daniel added.

Alysha said that raising a special needs child, Samuel’s younger brother Nathaniel, means that Samuel has been around adults, like doctors for Nathaniel’s medical appointments, very often, so it’s no surprise that he behaves and speaks like an adult, or is “8 going on 30,” as Daniel put it. “He’s an amazing boy,” he continued. “Nathaniel couldn’t ask for a better big brother.”

Samuel’s nomination letter said that he always helps his parents clean for their church service at SY7 Messianic Assembly each week, which includes sweeping, mopping, cleaning tables and tidying up in general.

Alysha said Samuel even asks to help clean, and Daniel said it’s important for them to honor the Lord by keeping the sanctuary clean and learning that everything has its place. Samuel also learns shop skills when he accompanies Daniel, a landscaper and handyman, to job sites.

Like many 8-year-olds, Samuel has a variety of interests. Last summer, he played machine-pitch baseball. He especially likes hitting and playing second and third base on defense. He doesn’t like the outfield as much, where he said he spends some of his time waiting for something to happen.

“I’m very active,” Samuel said. “Whenever I’m alone, I’m twiddling my thumbs and getting ready to go.”

He’s used that active mindset in numerous ways, including engaging in community events, raising hens and especially playing music.

Samuel’s love of music started early. When the Brown family lived in Kansas, Samuel would often pretend his belt buckle was a guitar, so his parents got him a toddler-sized guitar so he could strum along with the pastor as he played guitar in church.

“I think that’s where his love of music was born,” Alysha said. “There was a love of music in our church down there.”

Samuel has learned “Amazing Grace,” “Ode to Joy” and more as he teaches himself guitar alongside James Linse, one of the pastors at SY7 Messianic Assembly. Additionally, Samuel has been playing piano for four years, and Nathaniel loves listening to him. “I just love performing,” Samuel said. Alysha added that his musical ability and willingness to perform for others are gifts that God has given him.  

Last Thanksgiving, Samuel pitched in to help with the community meal at Sunset View. He set tables, greeted people at the sign-in table and served pie. He also played piano at Sunset View, and last December, he played piano in a home-school musical performance at Regent Park Nursing Home in which other home-school children participated as well.

“The residents really enjoyed it,” Alysha said.

Describing how he feels as he plays music, Samuel said, “That’s just my heart. It makes my heart happy.”

Samuel has also shared his knowledge about various subjects at the Heginbotham Library on the first Wednesday of every month, when home-school children give presentations there.

Samuel will soon be presenting on volcanoes. He pointed out that this presentation is nine notecards long, and he has given a 12-notecard presentation on Switzerland in the past. His nomination letter pointed to Samuel’s gift for speaking and his knowledge of how to engage an audience, saying that his presentations are always great.

“I love them,” Samuel said of the presentation days, which encourage home-school children to develop their public speaking skills.

Samuel provided advice about what helps him to be able to perform and speak in public. “Practice hard and always stay calm,” he said.

Samuel will be joining the Raising Ranchers 4-H Club for the first time soon, and he will be showing hens. He said he’s learned a lot of responsibility in raising them, since he has to make sure they have fresh water, food and bedding and that the temperature in their shed is correct.

Samuel said, “I know my chicks inside and out. I know what makes them happy and what irritates them. I’ve watched them grow, and they’ve taught me to love animals and treat them with care.”  He added that he takes extra care to make sure the smallest one, Ruby, is protected.

At the end of the day, Samuel is still 8 years old and subject to what Daniel called “squirrel moments” like every 8-year-old, which was evident when Samuel announced that a dump truck drove by their house.

When he heard his dad say the word “squirrel,” Samuel wondered aloud what a squirrel the size of a dump truck would be like, and then he moved on to pondering how squirrels could go about operating a dump truck, how many it would take for pushing the accelerator, brakes, etc. He decided it would be a good lesson in teamwork for them.

His nomination letter said, “If you know Samuel, you just know there’s no one left without a friend, there’s no dark corner of the room when he’s in it,” and that nothing gets him down, and he helps others up when they’re down. Calling him a shining light on a hill, it went on to say he always greets people with a smile.

“That’s showing the love of Jesus, being kind for all,” Daniel said, noting that Samuel always cheerfully waves hello to those he sees, even if he doesn’t know them.

It’s clear that Samuel does show kindness for all — every day — and it’s only one of the many reasons he earned the Youth of the Year community excellence award.