Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Smile Cards At Church

A Brother Like That

(I came across this in my Inbox, and there was no author attributed) A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked. Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish ..." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you ... Read Full Story >>

Setting up an Apartment for a Girl in Need

Several months ago, at the beginning of the school year, I heard from a friend about a young lady who had recently moved to our area. She was a student from another country with only her small stipend to make do and had just rented a small apartment. My friend told me that she had very little in the way of possessions. I got the young lady's telephone number and called her, explaining that I was a friend of a friend and I heard she might be able to use a few household items. She said, "Yes, thank you!" and mentioned that she had slept on the floor of the apartment the night before with only her coat to cover her and that it was a bit chilly. As every mother knows, when our children are away at school we constantly worry about their welfare, and, everyone's child is my child, ... Read Full Story >>

Seeing The Smile On Their Face

I am so glad I found this site and I can't wait to use my smile cards.  I went to the mall on my lunch hour from work, and  wrapped a smile card with a five dollar bill and left it on a pole in the middle of the mall.  I had some time so I wanted to sit back and watch who would take it. I couldn't believe how many people walked by and didn't see it!  I prayed that just the right person would find it, that really needed some encouragement today.  My lunch was almost over so I was almost out of time.  I really wanted to see the person's face who found it.  Then all of a sudden two ladies walked by and one of them took the money rather quickly, and then I saw her and her friend read the smile card and then turn it over ... Read Full Story >>

Really Really Free Markets Are A Really Really Great Idea!

  I started a Really Really Free Market in my town as a way to bring the community together.    A Really Really Free Market is like a cross between a farmer's market and a garage/yard sale, except everything is free! People show up with stuff to give away and take what they need from other people's abundance.   It took a little while to catch on but now it seems fairly busy and I am trying to make it bigger and more fun so that more people have access to the wonder that is giving without expectation of reward and receiving without being judged.   It runs once a month on a Saturday afternoon and there are clothes, books, plants, biscuits, pasta, fruit, furniture, ornaments - and lots of other stuff. The kids all play together (it's at a park) and sometimes one family brings playdough, beads and colouring-in pictures for the children to play with.   I ... Read Full Story >>

Chocolate Moments of the Day

Inspired by yesterday's wonderful auto driver, I decided to share a 5 star chocolate every day with at least one person who makes me feel awesome! So my Magical Moment of the day changed to chocolate moment of the day starting from today. The following were chocolate moments from today: 1. I am blessed with an awesome colleague named Eshwari who sends good morning mails and other interesting forwards, though many of us don't reply back or thank her. Her good morning mails give a great start to my day, every day! Today, I sent her a thank you mail and gifted her a 5 star chocolate for her awesome spirit of spreading happiness around. 2. Another wonderful colleague of mine, Sravani, introduced me to a new eatery. I tasted delicious pav bhaji after a looongggggggggg time without doing so. Yummmyyyyyyyyy! I could not resist expressing gratitude to the person who prepared ... Read Full Story >>

An Act of Kindness Every Day

 This whole week I have been doing acts of kindness every day.  The following are a few that I wanted to share.   Thursday I went to the post office and solicited for prayers for the prayer book I have started for a very ill boss of mine who is battling cancer.     Friday   I called my boss while he was receiving his chemotherapy and I told him that everything would be ok and he just needed to hang in there. I also offered to drop off the prayer book for him to read if he needed encouragement.   Saturday   I just moved into my current neighborhood and still getting to know my way around. When I first went to the car wash near my apartment, I met a lot of friendly people. When I went back for the second time, they washed my car for free.   This past Saturday my mother needed to borrow my car. I ... Read Full Story >>

A Flat Tire and an Unexpected Helper

Yesterday after work I went to get into my car and to my surprise, I had a flat tire. I have always been the type of person who remains calm no matter what situation I’m in. This time, I was perturbed; this was the second flat tire I have had in one week. As I struggled to get the spare out of my trunk, a car pulled up next to me. It was my boss Marvin. To give you a quick background, Marvin is seriously ill and receives chemotherapy three times a week which leaves him very tired and weak. He was in his car heading home to rest when he saw I was in need. He asked me for the tools and I almost said "no" because I did not think he was well enough for such a task. However, he wouldn’t take no for an answer so I handed ... Read Full Story >>

Anonymous Gifts at Work

At the welfare organization where I work at we decided to give back to the staff of social workers that give tirelessly of their time to others with little reward.

Each of us randomly chose a name of another staff member from a hat and for the next week anonymously did nice things for them, like making them tea or bringing them lunch!  

At the end of the week the secret fairy was revealed and eveyone felt so validated and grateful for the idea. It was great!  Try it at your office! 

Breakfast With a Tax Refund

When we got our tax refund my husband and I went out to a local restaurant for brunch.

I am a big fan of random acts of kindness and do them whenever I have the opportunity. So, I told my husband (who was fixing to go pay for our meal) to ask the cashier how much an elderly lady's ticket was and to pay it for her.  Then when she went to the register to pay, let her know that it had been paid for anonymously.

We left the restraunt before her so I really dont know what her reaction was, but I like to think I helped make someone smile that day!

A Smile Card Transforms a Rude Clerk

I gave my first Smile Card out the other day.  I was in the drugstore and asked the clerk for the cheapest lighter they had.  She tossed the lighter at me, and rang me up, without saying a word, smiling, or even looking at me. 

My first reaction was to think, "How rude," but then I thought maybe she's just having a bad day.  So as I was leaving the counter, I left a Smile Card there and said, "This is for you; I think you are having a bad day.  All I ask is that you pass it on."  When I was exiting the store, I turned back to look at her, and she was looking at me with astonishment, and tears were rolling down her face.  I left before she could say anything, but this is just a reminder to me, to us all!, that just because a person is acting rude and hateful does not mean she is normally that way – she might be having one of the worst days of her life – we just don't know.

I also want to tell everyone that this group has brought back my faith in humankind, and I am so happy to have found it and all the kind and wonderful people on here!

Buying Ice Cream and Making a Difference

The other day, I decided to come home early because it was such a beautiful day. The kids were outside playing in my apartment complex and the ice cream truck was whistling its tune. As I drove slowly to avoid an accident, I noticed a little boy looking at the ice cream truck. He didn’t get anything and he walked away with a disappointed look on his face. I asked the ice cream guy what happened and he said the little boy had no money. I had no cash on me so I drove to my building and went upstairs to look for some cash. When I found it the ice cream guy was still waiting but the little boy was not.   I went in the direction I thought he might have gone and I saw a woman getting out of her vehicle. I asked her if she had a little boy ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Out at a Red Light

On tuesday, I was driving and came to a red light where a gentleman was selling news papers. It was very hot outside so I rolled down my window and asked him if he wanted some Gatorade since I had plenty in the trunk of my vehicle.

I quickly put my hazard lights on, put the car in park, and ran to the trunk for the Gatorade. The light turned green and by this time the car behind me was honking their horns and being impatient!  Regardless, I took my time, and spoke to the man for a few seconds, gave him the gatorade, and then decided to leave!   

Nourishing Hungry Cats

When I went to the pet store yesterday, there was a woman with cats that needed adopting. I have 3 cats already and was not in a position to bring another one home, so instead, I purchased cat food for all the cats she is housing and thanked her for all her hard work on behalf of the animals.

She started to cry and told me that she needed food for them that day. I was so glad that I acted on my feelings and was able to at least feed some of these animals, even if I can't adopt them.

Letting Go of a Favorite Necklace

 This morning, as I got dressed for work, I chose one of my favorite necklaces. I do not wear it often because I want to hold onto it for a long time.

When I got to work, I was walking though a doorway and a woman stopped me and said, “I love your necklace.” I stopped walking to talk to her for a few minutes as she admired it and told me how great it looked on me. I was feeling a bit under the weather and did not feel as though I looked my best. But what she said to me made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

I recalled the many mornings that she has spoken to me with a smile and then remembered something that my mom taught me. “You only give to others things that you would want to have.” As this thought ran through my mind, I unfastened the necklace from around my neck and told her she could have it. She would not take it because I had expressed to her how important it was to me. So I took her by the arm and put the necklace in the palm of her hand.

As I walked off I told her that a blessing given is a blessing received.  

A Long Journey Brings a Blessing

I live in a rented house and the owners are very old,  almost 85 years in age.The owners use gas for cooking and the cylinder needs refilling from time to time. 

When the gas had run out, they asked me to refill it at a place that was at least 15 kilometers away from the house.  They were too old to travel by any means of transport.  In spite of the hot summer weather, I took the initiative to fill the gas and they were so happy that they gave me blessings. 

I am satisfied with the service I provided to them..

A Caring Angel At A Caregivers Retreat

  I went to a day-long family caregiver's retreat this past weekend and encountered a lot of wonderful people doing fabulous work caring for their loved ones.     Because of my recent physical problems I had to go in a wheelchair. It is a companion chair ~ the kind you have to push with your feet because the wheels are tiny. It's meant to be an easier chair to lift out of the trunk ... much less cumbersome and definitely lighter than the big wheel wheelchairs. But it makes for exhausting pushing, especially when your leg muscles are already compromised.  Unfortunatley, I have to push myself backwards because I cannot use the muscles needed to pull myself forward!   After the retreat was over, I was pushing myself backwards across the large campus. It was hot and I was exhausted from the effort. A lady of about 50 years of age came up to ... Read Full Story >>

My First Hug

  I consider myself one of the luckiest people I know.    I lost my biological mother when I was nine years old and when she was alive she was not much of a mother to me.    I met my step-mom for the first time when I moved to America to be reunited with my father. From the beginning she made sure to let me know that I was safe and welcome.    I remember when I first saw her at the airport. It was different but not uncomfortable. Over the past several years there is nothing I needed that she did not provide. I am the young woman I am today because she made sure to raise me properly.    Yesterday I went to see her for Mother’s Day. When I gave her my gifts she held my face in both of her hands and kissed me straight on the mouth - even though I had the ... Read Full Story >>

Unexpected Help at the Grocery Store

  My son is away at college, in his first year.    He called me one night to tell me, "Mom, I met the nicest lady ever!"     He had taken the bus from his dormitory to the grocery store. While he was shopping the light rain outside turned into a major storm; heavy rain, strong winds and very cold! As soon as he stepped outside the wind destroyed his umbrella and he was immediately drenched. Not knowing how he'd get his groceries onto the bus and back to the dormitory in such awful weather he stood in the shelter of the store entrance.    Just then a lady stopped her car, rolled down the window, and asked if he needed a ride. Remembering what I had taught him about taking rides from strangers he said, "No, thanks." But she insisted so he looked her over carefully and decided she looked like a safe "mom-type." He ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness: A Way of Living (Video)

Two volunteer interns at HelpOthers, who are only high-school students, recently directed and starred in their own video about how to make kindness a part of our daily lives.  They undertook "step-it-up" acts of kindness as part of their weekly "homework" throughout the summer internship :) and have produced this video to share their inspiration with others!

Check out their inspiring video and leave a comment here to encourage them, and other young people like them, to create more ripples of kindness in the world! :)