Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Being A Friend

I've done good deeds throughout my life, but today I want to write about the most important one for me. And it is actually really simple - I am a friend!

Mother Teresa said that the biggest hunger is for love, not food. I have very few friends but I support each and every one of them. I give them my love when they need some help because the most important thing is to share the love, not to keep it to yourself. Only by giving we can receive.

Today a friend of mine texted me on my cellphone, "I've been really lonely. Thank you for being there for me." That made me smile! It's that easy to make someone happy. Just be a friend!

1134 Reads

Hot Soup and Uplifting Stories

I'm feel I am coming down with a cold.  And have been feeling sorry for myself and not feeling very generous today. 

When I arrived home after work, I learned that my hubby had prepared some homemade turkey and rice soup.  He has been "taking care" of me all evening.

As I sit here and read the wonderful stories shared by the members, I realize that I am feeling so very blessed at the moment.  The generosity of others all around me has created a huge internal shift.

This is what giving is all about. :)

1917 Reads

Serving with Love

I am a person disabled by a variety of chronic conditions but I am seldom actually sick.  On a recent day though, I was really sick and stayed in bed, moaning and throwing up! I live with my dear husband (who was on a day trip with motorcycle buddies,) a 30 week pregnant daughter (who is both high risk and pre-term) and our sweet dogBoo who is nearly two years old and very active.  During this day, nothing unusual happened. I wasn't showered with flowers or feted on a pillow or anything of that sort but the love that was bestowed on me that was a gift of help.  Between my daughter and I we were able to see her Dad off on his trip, unaware of how sick I was. Then my daughter took care of the house, me, Boo, the errands and the meals. You name it she did it.  She smiled, she didn't ... Read Full Story >>

1712 Reads

On a Kindness Mission with my Smile Cards

My second lot of Smile Cards arrived last week, and I have been trying to think of uses for them. Today, before I headed into town for a job interview, I decided to grab a handful and try to use as many as I could throughout the day.  The weather was awful, it was pouring with rain, and I would've loved to buy umbrellas for people.  But being unemployed, I didn't have the money to spare.  So instead, I decided to think of free or really cheap ways to make people smile -- after all, even the little things count.  I knew I'd also have to deal with my shyness, or just create anonymous acts of kindness, but it was a challenge I was willing to accept! Before leaving my house, I filled a bag with some items that I no longer use and prepared to drop it off at a charity shop in town.  ... Read Full Story >>

4482 Reads

A Second Chance To Help

Yesterday I was returning from Boston by bus. My wife was planning to leave work to pick me up from the the bus station. I called her to say not to bother, I would just take the local transit bus to her. This was the first time I had ever ridden the local bus system. While I was sitting on the bus a young woman with a dog got on. She was carrying several bags of heavy books. I noticed the dog was an emergency dog, one that is trained to warn the owner of a possible seizure. I heard the young women mention to someone else that she still had two miles to walk with the heavy books after she got off the bus. I thought maybe I should ask if she wanted a ride but I wasn't sure which stop she was getting off at so I hesitated and  didn't ask. The bus dropped ... Read Full Story >>

2059 Reads

Anonymous Christmas Gifts

I work within an assisted living complex, and I truly love it! Words can't describe how much the people I care for have changed and enhanced my life. I feel blessed to care for them.  Anyway, this isn't something I've done, but one of my residents. I was so moved when she told me that I wanted to share it. I was telling my resident how I had my handbag stolen at a local mall and, sadly, never got it back. She told me she had lost her wallet many years ago. A young woman called her a few days later and said she had found it. So my resident said she would come over and pick it up. She drove to this woman's house and said it was obvious the woman was struggling and she had three small children.   She took her wallet and everything was still in it. From then on for ... Read Full Story >>

4099 Reads

Homemade Christmas For My Grandchildren

My hands (along with my mouth ) have been non-stop! I love Christmas!!! My favorite part is watching the children opening their gifts!

This year with so many grandchildren plus other friends' children, I had to be extra frugal when it came to gift giving because I had so many gifts to give! I busied myself making scarves and hats for 18 children. About the time when I thought I was finished, I would hear of another child coming to the family celebration, then another.  Seems like they were coming out of the wood work!! 

I made sure no child would leave empty-handed, so I made several more scarves and several more hats. I have been baking cookies almost every day and stuffed candies inside of small stockings.  It's not much, but I added the Love and Prayers for each child and I hope they feel it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY !!!  THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS WORLD A BRIGHT ONE !!!!!

1994 Reads

A Schoolbag Full Of Love Makes A Difference

I must share a heart warming experience I enjoyed this week, both as a parent and a human being. My daughter, Emma (in 7th grade), started back to school last week. There is a young boy in her class (call him Jake) who is quite overweight. As you might expect  he is the butt of many jokes and is treated very badly by other kids (and even by the teachers). Jake gives the impression that he's not a nice guy, mostly because of the fact that he's constantly picked on. For several nights this week Emma came home from school upset about the fact that Jake gets picked on so much. She also mentioned that he had no school supplies as his family could not afford them. He was constantly asking to borrow paper, which just gives kids even more reason to pick on him. One night Emma was extremely upset about this situation, not only because ... Read Full Story >>

43.7K Reads

Don't Be Too Busy To Do What's Right

Today I was sending out the last of my Christmas packages. As I was leaving, I saw this lady with two huge packages marked "fragile" piled high coming into the Post Office.

I was ready to go right past her and jump in my car.  I had so much to do and I was focused on getting those things done.  But then my brain/heart kicked in and said, "Aurelia...she needs help.  Why didn't you ask her if you could help her with the packages?" 

So, I turned back around and asked if I could help her carry a box and also open the door to the Post Office. She was delighted and told me how her Mom was busy baking cookies for special people and that's what was in the boxes.  That made me smile. 

Don't be too Busy to do what's right....

2515 Reads

Christmas Candy Compassion

Each Christmas season I try to buy the large Hershey bars to share with friends, the postman, co-workers and others. 

This year I ran into a local store and bought 6 candy bars.  As is the usual during this season, there was a gentleman outside the front door of the store ringing the Salvation Army bell with the kettle.  I gave my donation and proceded on into purchase my treats. 

In Nebraska that day it was 18 degrees outside and very cold and blustery.  On my way out I offered this gentleman a large Hershey bar with almonds.  He lowered his scarf and thanked me profusely.  He said he could not decline a delicious chocolate bar. 

It made me smile and feel warm inside.  I don't like chocolate so I share the yummy treat with everyone else inside. 

1983 Reads

Someone Will Help

Opportunity knocked on my door last January when I was given a chance to work in an other country.  It's really such a blessing! At first, it was really scary living life on my own.  But, I soon met .lots of new people. Some were good and some were bad. It was a true challenge! I met a group of friends, six boys and one girl. They were really nice. I loved their company and they were so funny! We hung out most weekends. We cooked, watched movies, chatted and shared jokes! It was amazing - until something unexpected happened! One of our group was diagnosed with kidney stones which had to be removed surgically as soon as possible. But it was not as simple as that! Our friend could not afford the surgery. He tried to get help from our other friends but they refused to help. My heart cried for him! Our  friends abandoned him just when he ... Read Full Story >>

6340 Reads

Remembering Gaspar's Gratefulness

My brother brought home a young man named Gaspar for the holidays many years ago.  He was from Africa and was studying in the United States. He stayed with our family for a week. He was so grateful and gracious. During that week, I remembered he helped me with my studies, chemistry in particular because that wasn't my strong suit.  He taught me a little of his native language, Swahili.  I still remember that 'poa' means cool!!  I taught him 'Heart and Song' on the piano.  It was a cultural awakening for me.  When Gaspar came to the United States he couldn't go home until his college education was done.  He was very appreciative of our family.  In fact, I have never met a person as humble and grateful as he was, to this day.  At the end of the week, he gave us all an emblem from his culture.  What he gave me was a bracelet ... Read Full Story >>

1746 Reads

A Small Amount of Joy for a Young Woman

I had been helping a young woman who lives in a slum for some time.  She works very hard, in a textile showroom and she is forced to stand for 10 hours a day. 

One day she mentioned she had never been outside of the city.  So I took her and her widowed mother to another town three hours away in an air-conditioned bus.  I took a photograph of  her near a historical fort. We came back the same evening.

She was super thriled with the journey and also the photograph. Some day hopefully she might get to see some of the most beautiful places in the rest of India and other parts of the world.

It was a privilege to bring a small amount of joy to a fatherless girl.

1561 Reads

Smile Card Revolution at School

I am currently in grade twelve at my school and have been working on a project by creating a group of eight girls, ranging from grades five to six, to stop bullying.  I introduced these girls to the Smile Card idea, and it was a huge hit.  We have been meeting every week since then.  Next thing I know, one girl came up to me with over 100 Smile Cards that she had printed out from this website and colored in herself!

This shows me that kindness can reach all different ages.  Now, the girls are continuously spreading the cards and making journals of their experiences.  I plan to get our whole school involved in this Smile Card revolution. 

My next theme is "We are all the same yet so different."  These girls gave me hope that people in this world do care.

4235 Reads

Overcoming Obstacles with Kindness

I live in a small town but even so parking is a luxury. If you want to go shopping in town you pay. I went to town to get a few bits and pieces and had my parking under control for an hour when I bumped into a friend. She is 81 years old and a sweetheart and she wanted to talk. So, I was at the door of the shopping centre with almost one foot out the door, an eye out for the parking attendant and an attentive ear for her. When I saw the parking attendant my heart sank. I ran to the car to find a square piece of paper glued to my front window then run to the man who was walking slowly along the cars. I explained that I was just a few minutes late and the proof was that I was there talking to him. If I had ... Read Full Story >>

2690 Reads

Trusting in the Kindness of Strangers

While driving from my home on the long commute to work I noticed a car in front of me had a wobbly wheel. It was clear the wheel had been changed recently and had not been fixed correctly. On a slow road this would not present much of a problem but I knew the route and knew a motorway was coming soon where the traffic would move much faster and would be very dangerous as the wheel could very well come off at that speed. I was driving a large jeep at the time and the car in front was a small to mid-sized car driven by a lady on her own. So as I tried to flash my lights and wave her to pull over I was worried that looking in her mirror she would see a lone man chase her down in a jeep waving frantically for her to pull ... Read Full Story >>

2689 Reads

The Gift of the Magi

One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty- seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas. There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigates the moral reflection that life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the ... Read Full Story >>

6957 Reads

Little Christmas Surprises for the Little Ones

Today a customer came in with her two little ones.  She had a little boy and a little girl. 

I try to keep little things at my desk to give to the little ones who come in the bank.

For the little boy, I gave some bubbles and the little girl I gave a plastic ring, pink to match her pretty outfit.  They thanked me.  I couldn't hold back my huge smile!

We wished each other Merry Christmas as they left.

It made my day!

Smiles...

 

1389 Reads

Learning Kindness From My Father

I remember when I was growing up that my mom would tell me stories about the kind acts my dad would do.  She told me that one time my dad met a close, long-time friend of his in the downtown area. They talked for a while and his friend mentioned that he didn't have money for fare back home.  My dad gave him the only money he had, which was for his own fare, so he just walked home.   I obeserved these acts kindness in our home.  Dad would let me and my two younger brothers eat first and he would eat after us.  Whatever was left on the table he would consume.  I remember the days when his older brother would come to our house and ask for money for his kid's allowance in school and my dad would give him some.  And when it was our time to ask for allowance he would tell us ... Read Full Story >>

3181 Reads

City Of Dreams

Where I work, we participated in something called City of Dreams this year, where we receive gift requests from underpriviledged children, and then we go and buy their present (kind of like anonymous Santas), return it unwrapped to a collection bin at work, and then they get it back to the child.  We just know the child's name, age and gender.

This year, "my" child wanted LA Lakers gear, so I got him a T-shirt and a hat.  It's a great program and it feels good to give anonymously in this way.

1779 Reads