Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Difficult Choices Bear Deep Rewards


--by guin, posted Mar 17, 2007

I think that while some acts of kindness are easy to do or are done in a sort of planned way,  there are other moments that test you.

In the face of hunger, suffering and misery, my mind begins to rationalise and justify why I shouldn't be helping.  However, sometimes after the good fight, a sense of compassions wins and I do something.  Otherwise my laziness or fear wins over and I just walk away.

Today I faced this kind of choice.

I had walked a bit of a distance from my University Campus to my bus stop.  I did not have all that much money to spend and wanted to catch the train which was a cheaper form of transport, after which I would have to change to another train and then a bus.  I also needed to cross two national highways to reach the stop-places with fast cars and huge trucks whizzing past that is a pedestrians nightmare.

On a blazing hot afternoon, I was already getting tired thinking of the commute - add to which a couple of friends who hadn't waited for me but left already.

I saw an old man with a begging bowl. He seemed so weak that he couldn't even get to a proper place but was just begging on the ground near the ticket counter.  It would be unjustifiable to say he should work and earn his money,etc. because he was clearly too old, sick and incapable of doing that.

I turned away and walked over to the next stop where I needed to catch my train a short distance away.  I looked over and saw the old man again.  The students passing him were brushing him off and not even glancing at him.

I saw that there was not much time left for the train.

I waited for a couple of minutes. Some feeling from my heart told me that I should not ignore doing what I could to help this old man.  It was an intuitive feeling of connection.

Much to the confusion of some onlookers, I made my way back to the University, past the national highways.  I bought him a hot meal that was packaged by the food court on campus.  Then I made my way back to the station.

I could hear the train coming,  but I stopped to see the old man anyway.  At that moment, when I handed the meal to the old man, a look of surprise and pure joy passed his way.  He gave me a humongous toothless smile.

I think as much as the food, he was very happy that someone actually thought about him since he had seen me make a trip back to college to buy him lunch.

I may not have made much of a difference in his life since I only bought him food for a day, but I felt that at least he knew there were people who cared about him.

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Readers Comments

LadyK wrote: Keep the good works for someday you will be rewarded to the full. What goes around comes around, remember this.
Sean Elias wrote: Buying one meal makes all the difference in the world to someone who is hungry! I once had the best bowl of Spaghetti Os when I was broke and hungry. To this day, I still remember that bowl of Spaghetti Os and the kind soul that gave it to me. There is no such thing as a small act of kindness. All acts of kindness are enormous acts of courage and are worthy of gratitude.
So great job! You followed your heart instead of logic and enjoyed enormous rewards.
Thanks from the rest of the citizens on Planet Earth. We appreciate your kindness, fellow traveller!
Namaste.
xxooxxooxxoo
Alexis wrote: when i neared the end of the story i got very teary eyed and thought that is such a beautiful thing to do-that makes you a better person and makes me smile to know that there is still people in the world who actually can lend out a hand to someone in need of it
tambu wrote: Your heart spoke and you listened...
What it is about!
Gonz wrote: Thank you for reminding us of our duty to our brothers and sisters.
You helped that old man more than you know.
May God Bless you and your kind actions.
You have inspired me.
Thanks.
Aurelia wrote: Guin, That was a beautiful thing to do. Your heart must have been beating with love when you got that toothless smile from a total stranger in need. Love One Another...that's the answer. Peace.
earthling wrote: the way you paused to listen to your heart and reach-out is very touching.
MJ wrote: By the grace of God go I....You listened to the voice and came through. Gods blessings to you and all the many others who go about the business of caring for each other. what a lovely story.
WhiteRose wrote: That's awesome! You are an amazing person! :)
Martin wrote: YUP,YUP,YUP....
thanks brother.
We are ALL "made well" by every instance of this.

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