Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Buttermilk Memories

When I was visiting an elderly neighbor today she asked me what I had put in the muffins I baked for her.

When I mentioned buttermilk as one of the ingredients her eyes lit up! She said, "My son never brings me buttermilk from the store when he does my grocery shopping. My kids never liked buttermilk when they were growing up, but I loved it. When I grew up on the farm we always had fresh buttermilk and cream."  

"Just A Smile, Sister!"

I was walking along a sidewalk in the city. A bit of a distance away I could see a woman walking along with a big signboard around her neck. I was naturally curious about what it said, so I deliberately slowed my pace so I could see.

Blessing The Silent Majority

I gave some money to the old man who sells posters on a footpath I use. 

Help Along The Road

I was barely getting by financially when my pickup truck sputtered to a stop by the side of the road.  

A Day Full Of Blessings

Some days are just so full of blessings you don't know what to do! Today was one of those. My neighbor needed to avoid a utility shut-off, so I helped her round up the money to cover it. It was mutually beneficial and not really a favor but she appreciated the help. (I bought some stuff from her that she had no use for but I would have probably purchased anyway.)      When I got home I found a wet $20 bill plastered to the ground in the street.    Another friend had coupons and rewards and treated me to a good movie and wonderful dinner at a little cafe. At the diner, I saw a man and his three adorable little girls having a frugal meal. He looked a little stressed, so I used the $20 bill I had found and paid for their meal.    The waitress was so surprised by this that she ... Read Full Story >>

Breakfast On The Streets

I used to travel by train to my work place. The railway station was about ten minutes away from my home. 

Angel in an Audi Quattro

My car has been giving me fits lately. Dying right in the middle of the road for no discernible reason, I checked out by my mechanic-- to the tune of $283 two weeks ago-- but it continues to stop at odd and wondrous times.  No sputtering, no chugging, just stopping.  Today, I had to go to the office store. It's close by, so I thought I would risk it, and if that didn't cause it to die, I would go to the pharmacy to return some old prescriptions.  The office store was no problem, however, just as I turned the corner to go into the pharmacy parking lot, the Gracemobile died.  I tried starting it again, and unlike other times, it didn't restart.  I was nine feet from the intersection, so I put on my hazard lights to make sure I wouldn't get hit by an unsuspecting car rounding the corner.  I ... Read Full Story >>

You Could Be My Son

The other day I was in town with my daughter and we saw this man sitting on the ground, looking sad and like he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  Before I could say anything my daughter asked if we could give him some money. (He had a hat on the ground with some coins in it.)    So, I gave her some change. At the same time an elderly gentleman bent down towards the man, said some words, and gave him some money.    I was very much touched by the gentleness of the gesture. It was as if the older man was saying, "I am helping you because you could be my son."    It was a very hot day, which is not very normal in our little town. We were going to the supermarket and my daughter asked me if we could get some water and something for the man to eat. ... Read Full Story >>

Accidentally Perfect Timing

One of the things that make my heart sing is to put together gifts for friends, especially those who are far away. What often puts a smile on my face is the way the timing works out. 

A Knight In A Shining Taxi Cab

I'm from Ireland and while away in another county to attend a gig I had my handbag stolen! 

When You Are Not Watching

We had gone to a friend's house yesterday to make some music.

While I was in another room, some other friends with small children and instruments arrived. Unbeknownst to me, my son went outside and helped several of them unload their cars and carry things inside. Later, a few of them commented to me about how helpful he had been. (One person even said, "chivalrous"!)

Their comments caught me by surprise, because this is just how we expect each other to behave in our family. :)

So I guess my lesson here is that what children do when you are not watching is how you find out what they have learned!

Burgled At Night, Blessed In The Morning

My  husband came home today and told me a gentlemen who used to attend our church was robbed last night. Someone had broken into his home and stole his money and some other other things. 

Large McSmiles To Go

I have been itching to come up with my next "Smile card" pay-it-forward project. Well, the idea came to me today!

Subway Samaritan

This evening, I was travelling northbound on the Yonge subway in Toronto. I was a little tired, as I had just spent two hours attending the Annual General Meeting for Gallery 44, a contemporary photography center where I am a member. In this weird March that Toronto is having, where the weather feels more like July, the room at Gallery 44 was like a sauna. After the meeting, I just missed the streetcar that would take me to the Yonge subway, and ended up walking a mile to the nearest station. At 70 years old, I was tired. The subway car was crowded, and there were no seats. A young man offered me his, and, thanking him, I accepted. As I sat there, I became aware of another young man, who, from his rudimentary English, was clearly a newcomer to Toronto. He wanted to get to Jane Station, which is on the Bloor-Danforth or ... Read Full Story >>

Meeting Michael

I was sitting at my desk today, looking out the window. I saw an old homeless man crossing the street, carrying a suitcase.    I remembered the many times  I had looked on from afar, feeling sorry for the homeless but doing nothing. I do give money to homeless people when I walk by, but never really interact with them, beside a smile.    I came across this website and all your stories inspired me so much to get more involved. Sometimes we think about compassion but we push it into the deep corners of our heart because we're too busy with life, too shy, or too afraid of strangers. But all it takes is a little awakening from like-minded people like you!    I did what I never thought I could as I'm an introvert and afraid of strangers. I burst out the front door and ran after the old man. When I reached him ... Read Full Story >>

Fresh Clothes And Dignity

Through my work at a public service organization I often encountered people in dire circumstance. Like the Native American woman who staggered into our lobby.   She had obviously soiled herself, been drinking heavily, and was disorientated. Luckily, someone had told her she could probably sit in our lobby and be safe.   A colleague approached me, wondering what I was going to do about this problem and how I was going to get her out of there. I was startled by this brash attitude and all I could think was, "There, but for the grace of God, go I".     At first this inebriated woman was argumentative, swearing, and waving her arms about. So, I sat down beside her and gave her a coffee. With the warm drink in her hands she seemed to settle down some. I asked her name and where she was from. She was not from the city but from ... Read Full Story >>

Blanket Of Warmth

It's never too late to share a kindness story even when you are about to go on holiday. It begins with a hobby of mine...knitting. My nan and mum bless their hearts taught me to knit many years ago and it has always been a passion of mine making things for people and over the years I have made a few things for family and friends. I have always found it very therapeutic and relaxing. Now my biggest enjoyment of knitting is making large blankets..some square patterned and some embroidered. Over a long period of time I have managed to make about 15 and have kept them in storage but have always hoped one day I would be able to give them away free to people that needed them. A few years back I found out that Oxfam would not be able to take them off my hands for me and send ... Read Full Story >>

The Gift Of A Bathroom

They were a family of nine; the father, mother, two boys, and five girls. The father worked as kitchen cleaner at a local school and the rest of the family help supplement his income by cleaning people's yards. They were a very poor family. Then the father lost his job at the school!   He asked that I take him on to clean our yard. Realizing his situation, I offered him the job. He and his family came to our house three times a week to clean the yard.    Early one morning the father suffered a stroke and died in the hospital. The poor family had lost their main bread-winner. The oldest boy had just completed school and was getting ready to go to college. The others were just little kids.   We stepped up and did all our best to help make sure the family got their education, and provided some daily needs, like clothes, ... Read Full Story >>

The Veteran Who Wants To Make Folk Smile

Last weekend I was navigating my way through a Good-will store as I do every Saturday. I was absorbed in my own thoughts when I overheard an employee say, "Let me shake your hand to thank you for your service!"   I looked up and saw the employee, a man in his 30s, shaking the hand of an elderly man wearing a "WW II Veteran" hat. As they started talking I stood and listened in.   The veteran said he was 85 and when the employee and I expressed surprised he fished out his driver's license to prove it. This man was sharp as a tack and looked to be in great physical shape. And, boy, did he have a sense of humor!   The three of us stood there for about 15 minutes, just chatting away about the veteran's war experiences. He described the feeling he had when Germany surrendered in the war, how ... Read Full Story >>

"He Gave Us Pencils!"

I used to pass through a small school of 65 kids from Grade 1 to Grade 5. I always thought I should do something to make these kids happy.