Like The Flowing River!

--by bearhug, posted Dec 4, 2007

[ One of my favorite stories from Paulo Coelho’s 'Like the Flowing River', in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.]

My wife and I met her on the corner of Rua Constante Ramos in Copacbana. She was about sixty years old, sitting in a wheelchair, lost in the crowd. My wife offered to help her and the woman accepted the offer, asking us to take her to Rua Santa Clara.

There were a few plastic bags hanging from the back of the wheelchair. On the way, she told us that they contained all her belongings. She slept in shop doorways and lived off handouts.

We reached the place where she wanted to go. Other beggars were gathered there. The woman took out two packets of long-life milk from one of the plastic bags and gave it to the other members of the group.

“People are charitable to me, and so I must be charitable to others,” she said.

6755 Reads

Posted by bearhug
Dec 4, 2007
Comments (15)

Readers Comments

Aurelia wrote: What a grat story. Kindness full circle. I like it. Thanks for sharing it. ~Aurelia

brighteyes wrote: Great example of Kindness full circle...kindness given out, kindness received, kindness given out from the kindness recipent....how cool.
Great story and great author too!

greeneyes wrote: Beautiful story! Thanks for sharing with us. Things like this really make you stop and think about what is truly important in life.

Hugs, Greeneyes

smoothsugardoll wrote: tHIS STORY BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES IT SEEMS THE MORE WE GET THE MORE WE CAN FORGET.....
OTHERS!!!!!
IT'S SAD BUT TRUE. WE MUST REMEMBER WE GOT WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE GOD BROUGHT US HERE.

keshavarao wrote: what a wonderful kindness, really shows how human heart blossoms! thank you for sharing.

yarkiden wrote: yes. it is true. in my life in a developing country I have received more from the poor than from those who we consider rich. They are rich only materially and they lack of the best part the spiritual richness

lOVEBUG wrote: My experience in life tells me, all of humanity biased. My bias tends to lean toward the poor. God in his gracious mercy has given me physical comfort and a kink and loving spirit because I have faith. I have faith because the poor shared their faith with me, they depend on God and not their own strength. Human angels who are willing to share the secret of life

katlampi wrote: I LOVE Paulo Coelho, and I am so glad you posted this!! I just finished his book "Eleven Minutes," and am planning on reading something else of his after the Christmas season! I might have to pick up a copy of "Like the Flowing River" -- sounds like a good one!

resha valentine wrote: She was a nice person. She wants to help other, aside from her handicapp he did not blame GOd nor she do her best to make other happy. I hope many people will do the things like that. I'm very proud of you.

shweta wrote: what goes around comes around in every sense. circle of life. if we all followed the basics it would all be so simple and harmonous like it is in this stroy. beautiful and very inspiring!

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