one word

On a quiet spring morning in a small neighborhood, people noticed a large sign that read:

“What does the world need most right now? Use one word.”

Standing beside the sign was an elderly woman, smiling warmly as people stopped to think.

One man said, “Peace.”
A young woman answered, “Love.”
A little boy shouted, “Laughter.”
A tired worker quietly said, “Rest.”

But one little girl stood silently for a moment, thinking deeply. Then she walked up to the woman and whispered one word:

“Compassion.”

The woman smiled gently and replied:

“If there is compassion, there can be peace…
there can be love…
and even laughter again.”

From that day on, everyone who passed the sign started asking themselves: