Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Chicken Soup And Smiles

Happiness Shared

Bluebell's Blessings

Our local hospital has a small chapel where many people go to pray for loved ones who are ill or undergoing treatment. During my own bout with breast cancer I took solace there. I don't think of myself as a religious person as much as a spiritual one, but there is a wonderful and comforting energy in that chapel.    I was grateful to have a place to contemplate what my diagnosis could mean in my life and meditate on the best way to approach it. In the end I had the best possible outcome!   Last summer we went on vacation and I picked up a few small rocks that had been made smooth by the water. I wasn't sure what I would do with them, but I brought them home anyway. Again I felt comforted by them. They have been sitting on a shelf ever since.   When I joined this group a couple ... Read Full Story >>

Recycling For Rugby

I was recycling the other day when I met a young girl with her dad. They had a huge amount of cans with them and I asked what they had been collecting them for. They said their rugby team was trying to go on a trip so they were doing all kinds of things to raise funds. 

Wake Up Buddy

My friend lives and works in another city and travels home every weekend to spend time with her ageing parents. 

It Only Takes A Minute

My neighbor of thirty years is stressed out waiting for the results of a biopsy.

Kindness At The IRS

I went to the I.R.S. today to settle some tax problems.

$10 Of Gas Takes You Smiles Further

I was on my way back to from a trip out of town and just a few exits from the one I needed.   I thought I'd better not push my luck, so I pulled off the motorway to get some gas. I had $50 and figured I would use $40 to fill my tank. Since I was going inside anyway to pay for my gas I would use the rest of the money to grab a few snacks.    After  I handed the cashier my money she said, in a rather nasty tone, "That one wasn't approved either." I realized she was talking to someone else. I turned and saw an older lady turn, with her head down, and exit the store.     The cashier handed me my $10 change and said, "She's already tried two cards."    Leaving the store (without snacks,) something told me to give the older woman the $10 change. I ... Read Full Story >>

Scrapping Those Memories

One of my neighbors has MS and while I was visiting him today he complained that he was bored.  So, I went back home and collected four scrapbooks, one for his wife and each of his children. Since he was placed on disability he has the days to himself. I suggested he could make scrapbooks for his family with pictures and little notes from him.    We were both surprised by just how much he remembered about each of his children since they were born. As we talked there were tears of happiness brought about by memories he hadn't thought about in years.    Now that he has the time he's going to find all the little trinkets and pictures and place them inside each book. And if he needs some help, he knows I'm only a short walk away.    He was so excited about starting that he went into his bedroom and pulled out all ... Read Full Story >>

Visiting My Ex

I visited my ex-wife today. 

Pre-paid Adoptions

My wife and I purchase miniature candy bars and sell them at her place of employment to raise money to prepay for the adoption of a shelter animal. 

Ice Cream From "Someone"

Last week, after I finished delivering food on my weekly Meals On Wheels route, I stopped by the local ice cream shop.  Two ladies were at the counter ahead of me.    While we waited for their orders to be prepared we talked "ice cream" for a few minutes. When the server took my order I placed the cash on the counter but she said the lady ahead of me had just paid for it!    I went to thank the two ladies before starting my ice cream, and they just smiled.    After I had finished, I went back to their table to thank them again. One said, "What for?"    I said, "One of you paid for my ice cream, and I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it."    I asked one, "Was it you?"    She smiled and said, "It was someone."     So I asked the other lady, who gave the exact same reply!    So I ... Read Full Story >>

Seeds That Blossom And Windows That Gleam

Today I received a lovely act of kindness from a seed I panted some time ago!

A Turkish Meal In Germany

 It was a Thursday in Germany. My friend and I were taking an autumn walk through the fields.  As we neared the more populated area again, a little bit off the street, I saw a handbag lying on the ground. It looked like it might have belonged to a middle-aged lady - there was no one around.   Thinking it had been stolen and thrown aside, I picked it up. Maybe there were some papers left that the owner still needed. But when I opened it the contents seemed intact and undisturbed.   The papers showed it to belong not to a middle-aged German as I first thought but to a young woman of Turkish origin. (Let's call her Lale.) She appeared to live on the other side of town.   I took the bag home, and tried to contact Lale. However, she wasn't listed in the phone book. Now what?   A prescription inside showed her doctor's address. ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Grandma See Again

A Gift of Grapes

My mother was in the hosptial for four days, due to a rather bad skin infection. During one of those days, I stopped by the farmers' market to check out the fruit they had.

It was a very small but pleasant market, and the people there were very friendly. I didn't have any money on me, but just looked around, thinking maybe I would come back another time.

The woman running the market asked if I would like anything. I replied that I was just looking, that I had no money and was visiting my mom in the hospital.

As I was leaving, the woman stopped me and gave me a big package of fresh local grapes to give to my mom.

It was such a nice gesture, and really made me smile. The grapes were so sweet, probably the sweetest grapes I've ever had. And the fact that a stranger was so kind in giving them to my mother made them that much sweeter! :)

My Friends Are My Family

I went into the hospital for surgery, but things got complicated. I ended up losing a lot of blood and staying in the hospital for longer than we expected.

A Little Statue, A Little Hope

One day, I was talking to a woman who was extremely sad.

Her granddaughter had died, and she just couldn´t come to terms with it. As I left her, I felt a huge tug in my heart to give her some hope.

So I decided to buy her a little statuette of an angel. As I offered it to her, I assured her that her granddaughter was okay, and that this little angel would take good care of everyone. I tried the best I could to give her some hope, and then I left.

Several years passed, and just last week, I came across that very same woman.

She approached me and said that she had put that little angel beside a photo of her granddaughter. I could see in her eyes, and in the way she was talking, that the little gesture had helped her find a sense of peace.

In hearing her story, I realized how important it is to never underestimate the power of something that appears simple or small. Even a smile, or word, or touch. They really do make a huge difference in someone life! 

A Rare Hug

I was on my way to an appointment, and saw the beggar standing on his corner as usual.I didn't have any money and he was talking to somebody else anyway, so I passed him by.   On my way back from the appointment I passed him on his corner again. This time he asked me for money. I told him, "Sorry, I don't have any coins on me."   He replied, "I wouldn't mind the bills!" And he laughed a little, saying he was just making fun.    I laughed too and reached out to rub his shoulder and arm. Then I turned to be on my way, busy with my thoughts.   But he called something after me. I stopped when I realised he had said, "That felt really good ... that you touched me. It happens so seldom!"   I turned, ran to him, and gave him a big hug, which made both of us smile like idiots.   He ... Read Full Story >>

On A Rainy Day with Bus #82

When I was very new to US, I needed to get a new passport. It had only been two weeks since I landed here with my husband, but I needed a new one because I had gotten an emergency passport to come in the first place. At the time, we lived in Houston,Texas. We only had one car, so my husband dropped me off at the passport office and told me to take Bus #82 to get back home. I finished my work at the passport office and boarded Bus #82. I sat in it for an hour or so, but it didn't go anywhere near my house. I even told the driver where I lived, but the street was so small that even he didn't recognize it. So he simply brought me back to the starting point again. When I got off the bus, it started raining heavily. I tried asking the ... Read Full Story >>