Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Kind Hearts Are Color Blind

Waiting for Parking; Learning a Lesson

I have been ill and in a lot of pain for quite some time.  So my trips away from home have been few and far between, mostly to the doctor's office.  Two weeks ago I decided to go to the local market for some fresh produce.  As I backed out of my driveway, I asked aloud in the car, "Please help me to show kindness to others today."  It was heartfelt and I was eagerly looking for ways I could be kind, for example by letting people into my lane.   I drove to the market, and as I drove up, I saw an elderly man get his wife settled into their car, and then go around the car to the driver's side.  They were in a handicapped parking spot, and as I have a handicapped plate, I waited for that close spot.  It would mean all the difference in being ... Read Full Story >>

Selling Books To Help Students

  I have a student who is a single mom working hard to keep up with her college classes, raise her three-year-old and work to pay her bills. She is a lovely young woman and very sincere about her desire to pursue a career in nursing.    I try to help her any way I can from tutoring sessions, to study advice, etc.    The other day I received an Amazon gift card certificate via email just for filling out a survey! I immediately thought of giving this to her to use for books for herself or her son. Without thinking about it I just forwarded the gift card to her and told her to use it for something she needs.    I was so happy to be able to be in a position to do this!    She wrote a very sweet note thanking me but I just felt so glad I could do something (even something so ... Read Full Story >>

Changing a Tire and Teaching a Son

Last week as I pulled into the parking lot with my son for his baseball game, I saw a woman trying to change her flat tire. I told my son I would get him over to his practice field and then I was going back to help the woman change her tire. When I got back to the parking lot, nobody had stopped to help her. I went over and offered. She tried to be nice and said that she was fine, but I could see otherwise so I insisted. Besides, my mother as she watches me from above would have cut a deal to send a pigeon to deliver a “special present” for me if her son had walked by and done nothing.  Another woman parked nearby and said she had some wipes in the car, as I was getting dirty from the tire. She waited for us to finish ... Read Full Story >>

Fruit for the Pregnant Woman Pt. 2

The pregnant woman I wrote about in my previous story has now become a friend of mine.  Many of you wanted updates on both her and the baby, so this one is for you guys. As promised, I still have fruit for her every time she goes on her walk. Yesterday she did not come by, so I was worried. I went to her office to take her the fruit, but she was not there. This morning, she came by looking very tired. She said that she had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, which was why she was not at work. As the time for delivery is nearing, it is getting harder and harder for her to sleep at night, so she is tired.   I gave her a banana this morning, and, as always, she seemed to be surprised that it has been almost three months and she still receives fruit from me. ... Read Full Story >>

Service With Style

From time to time Julie and I meet in a supermarket cafe on a weekday evening. Because we usually arrive some time in the last hour before the cafe closes the service is usually less than good, with the staff more concerned about tidying up so they can get away quickly. Yesterday evening, there was one young guy behind the counter. Even though he must have had lots to do he took the time to talk and made sure we had everything we wanted. The meal, when he brought it over, was really nice. So, we decided to leave him a tip. I left the cash amongst the plates and, on the way out told him how much we had enjoyed the meal. He seemed genuinely pleased. But a couple of seconds later he rushed after me with the cash. It told him it was him. He apologised and said they weren't allowed ... Read Full Story >>

Will Paint For Dignity

  On a Sunday afternoon I was waiting for a music venue to open so I could slip in with my musician friends and set up to paint during the show.   They were running late so I sprawled on the grass next to the parking lot and pulled out a 4 inch by 4 inch canvas and a few tubes of paint. Some music was playing from a car parked nearby.   I certainly wasn't working on a masterpiece but I was absorbed into the work. I noticed a shadow on the grass by me, and looked up into a man's face.   He was a little unsteady on his feet and smelled lightly  of alcohol. Not a surprise in the neighborhood. He watched me paint and I looked up and smiled a few times.   "I used to be an artist," he said.  I sat up, pulled a 16 x 20 inch canvas from my bag with ... Read Full Story >>

Using Lunch Monday to Help a Stranger

While biking I came across an old man who had a flat tire on the side of the road and looked as if he needed help. I decided to stop and help this man. It turned out that he did not have the right size tube and then i remebered that right around the block was a bike store.

The man had left his wallet at home and I remembered I had my lunch money. I decided to use this money to go buy him the right-size tube. I was not worried about buying the man a tube as I knew he would appreciate this kind act. I also didn't worry about eating a lunch because by doing this kind act, I became full with the smile he had given me after I helped him. 

A Priceless Bar Of Chocolate

I am a volunteer Kids Church teacher every Sunday. In spite of my work and shool activities I committed to this time so I could talk with the children, inspire them, and help them realize that they're worth it. The time spent with them blesses me as well!   One time I arrived late and, to my suprise, found the kids were not in the classroom. I told them I wasn't happy about that. I explained that the ministry is not about me but about God. It's God's grace and faithfulness that should inspire them to attend and not me.   After the one hour lesson and talking to them from my heart I was suprised again. They waited behind after class to give me something. It was a bar of chocolate!   I got all teary-eyed! I hugged them and said how happy they had made me and how much I enjoyed having them in ... Read Full Story >>

Real Kindness On A Kenyan Street

  When I was about 6 years old I lived in Kenya. There was a lot of poverty and there were always street children on the roads asking for money.  There was such a big divide between those children and me and I grew up very aware of being so fortunate.    We had a wonderful and very kind driver, John, who had been working with my family for decades. He used to take us to and from school. One day we had to take a detour on the way to school and whilst we were stopped in traffic a young street child, probably no more than 10 years old, called out with a friendly greeting. “Jambo, John!”     He approached the car and shook John’s hand. John then gave him a little bit of money and waved him off with a smile before we carried on our way to school.   I had watched the whole ... Read Full Story >>

Putting My Mother's Teaching Into Practice

This weekend I went clothes shopping. While I was looking through the garments I would put the ones I wanted to try on across my arm. 

Then a lady who worked in the shop approached me. She appeared to be about the same age as my grandmother. She said, "Hello. May I please have your items so I can set up a dressing room for you?” 

I looked at her with gratitude and said, “No thank you." She insisted and I told her that if my mother were to see me hand her my clothes for her to prepare a room for me she would ask where I had left my manners. She smiled and said, “You have a good mother,” and left to go help another customer. 

When I was done trying on the clothes she asked me to give them to her so that she could hang them back up; but I knew where I had found everything so I returned them myself. 

Before I left the store she said to me, “Thank you for being considerate. I’m very tired today."

I was glad I had put my mother's teaching into practice.

In Her Time Of Greatest Need

  I used to work in a hospital as a Pharmacy Technician. As part of our duties we would make rounds of all the nursing stations to pick up orders deliver medication, etc.    On one of my rounds I met an elderly lady. She was sitting outside a room crying. People walked past and saw her crying but nobody offered to help. I stopped and asked if she was okay. She said her husband was in the room - dying.     I asked if I could call anyone or do anything for her but she said she didn't have any family near-by and they never had any kids. So, I just sat there a while, holding her hand and listening to her.    This went on for weeks, me listening and hugging, and her waiting and crying.    Well one day on my rounds I saw her sitting there, not crying. So, I went to sit with ... Read Full Story >>

Yes Martha, There IS an Easter Bunny

Some time ago,  I was shopping at my town's local St. Vincent de Paul Store.  As I was shopping, inspiration struck.  I saw they had several bags of plastic Easter eggs, so I bought most of them.  Later I went to various stores and bought about 20 bags of candy.  I then put a few pieces of candy in each Easter egg along with a smile card or a small inspirational note.  I filled up two duffle bags with hundreds of these eggs. 

Today, a friend of mine and I went around our city putting eggs on people's cars.  It turns out that one of the cars we left an egg on turned out to be someone my sister knows.  This person had mentioned on facebook how someone had left a plastic egg on her car and she was going to pass on the kindness herself and even print some smile cards.  This made my day.  Hopefully we made a lot of people smile!

Company of a Stranger On The Dangerous Walk Home

  When I was a little girl my family lived in what is now part of a forest preserve.    Our bus stop was about a mile from our house and in the afternoons we often walked home through the woods or down the highway. The woods were safer but in the winter the build up of snow made the trek very difficult. So, I often had no option but to walk the desolate stretch of highway that ran by our long driveway.   When I was in high school I took the highway home one winter's day and a man drove by. Now it wasn't unusual for all manner of creeps to bother me as I walked and I always felt very tense when I had to do it.    Instantly I knew this man was trouble! I pretended to look straight ahead. He drove down the highway, turned around drove past me again. Then he ... Read Full Story >>

To Doxie, With Love And Gratitude

  I met the most amazing person a few years ago. She has a wonderfuloutlook on life and she believes in the city of Detroit, even though many others have given up on.     My friend started an organization called Burners Without Borders and she focuses her efforts on helping the homeless in Detroit and the surrounding areas.    Every winter my husband and I help her with the Back-Pack Project. We fill back-packs with canned food, socks, gloves, hats, water, granola bars, a blanket. etc., and we give them to homeless people that we see on the streets.     People warn me that I could get hurt doing this but I don't feel in danger. I feel that these people are grateful and surprised that anyone cares. I am not reckless about it, I use common sense, but feel safe doing it that way.   Doing this simple thing for people has changed my life. I ... Read Full Story >>

A Journey Of Love

No matter how much money I don’t have, I always try to think positive. Sometimes, I hate it when I start thinking about money because it brings me down, makes me sad how others have more, and are doing more. When I was younger, I always wondered why money was so important, there wasn’t anything I needed. It’s good to be kid, not having to worry about responsibilities. But as everyone gets older, of course that changes. I work almost everyday, but it’s still not enough, that’s what is frustrating - it’s never enough. Right now I have to sacrifice the money I make. I put my school on hold so that I can pay for my girlfriend's school, paying for tuition and everything else. I’m very supportive because in everything I do, she is also very supportive, we are each other’s number one fan. Helping her really puts everything ... Read Full Story >>

A Wedding Dress Moment At Check-in

 My step-daughter left the U.K. for the U.S.A. yesterday. Because she is planning to start a new life there deciding what to take and what to leave was really difficult!

Most of the clothes she left will be packaged up and sent to help poor communities in Romania. Even so, she still had a lot to fit into her baggage allowance.

Arriving at the airport check-in she already knew one bag was over the weight limit. She had £40, about $75, in her hand to pay the excess.

Talking to the woman behind the check-in my step-daughter explained that the bag contained her wedding dress and shoes. She was going to America to marry her sweetheart.

"Is that so?" The woman smiled at her - and waved her on through with no charge for excess baggage!

What a beautiful start to an exciting journey. I pray her marriage has many such moments of random kindness!

A Mighty Effort For Might Max

After hearing about “Mighty” Max Low who is a 12-year-old boy with Leukemia I couldn’t help but get right in behind helping him and his family.     Max has been fighting with Leukemia for half his life and his big wish is to receive a million get well cards. It is his dream!   The sixth-grader was diagnosed with leukemia in kindergarten. Instead of letting the ailment get him down, in 2004, he and a friend thought of a cool way to pass the time while bedridden - get people to write him get well cards.    They set a goal of 1 million cards and while the word initially spread like wildfire the campaign began to peter out at the 24,000 card mark.   His story touched my heart and I longed to help him. I thought to myself, I can't just sit here. Let's set this wildfire off again and make his dream come true!   Firstly ... Read Full Story >>

The Mud in My Car

Two months ago, I was driving my new car for the first time.  As fate would have it, it started raining very hard.

A few blocks later, I came by a bus stop. Standing there was a young woman who was being drenched. She had no umbrella and all her belongings were wet as well. To make matters worse, she had mud on her shoes. But, like we all know, the universe is funny. The light turned red, causing me to stop directly in front of the young lady, so I rolled the window down and screamed over the thundering rain for her to get in. She was hesitant because she didn’t want to get my car wet and dirty. Nevertheless, I insisted, and she got in.

Twenty minutes later, I dropped her off at her destination. My car was dirty and muddy and needed to be taken to the car wash to have the mud removed from the rugs. But I was glad to pay for the service because I had made a big deposit into my personal bank account for random acts of kindness ... and that by far was more rewarding than having a clean new car!

Using Kindness to Hush the Noise Downstairs

  Several years ago my young daughter and I moved into the upstairs apartment where we now live. While my loving, wonderful friends helped me move in, the downstairs neighbors began to complain about the noise. That did not bode well for living above them. After all, how can anyone move in  quietly?   As I suspected, the complaints continued on a daily basis -- well after that initial day. We walked "too loudly" down the stairs, we flushed the toilet too much ... Their child had problems with my child and they complained to me as well.   I soon learned that they had driven out the last few families who had lived above them and that each situation had erupted into feuds and yelling. So, I had the information I needed and I tried to think of the situation from a spiritual point of view. I realized that I could fight with my ... Read Full Story >>