Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Chance to do a Good Deed

I got the chance to do a real simple, old fashioned good deed at the weekend. I was walking on Berwick main street (which sits on a bit of a hill) when I heard a crash. I didn't know what it was so I walked on, looking at the shops. A few minutes later I walked around a delivery lorry and found the cause of the noise. The driver had loaded his tail-gate with storage boxes before lowering it to the road so they could be delivered to the nearby shop. Because of the hill, or maybe careless stacking, they had toppled over. The pavement (sidewalk) was covered by these boxes and their spilled contents. Books and chocolate bars from some of the burst boxes were spread all over the place. The young delivery man (a Polish guy) was standing there in shock while passers by found their way through the mess. "Would you like a hand?" I ... Read Full Story >>

Surprises During School Tests Don’t Usually Make You Smile

Most kids in high school dread test days.

A Lone Visitor for an Old Lady's 92nd Birthday

I once helped an old lady home with her shopping. We talked a little and I learned that she had spent her life working for the Salvation Army. Well, it was her 92nd birthday (this time last year) and I decided to take her some flowers. I barely knew her but I thought it would be a nice gesture.   I told my brother-in-law what I was going to do and he found it very funny. He said I was “sooo gullible”.    Well, I did it anyway. I went over to Mrs Thompson’s with some flowers.    Mrs Thompson is a widow. She lives in a bungalow, it’s nice, although it looks like it hasn't been decorated since the 1960s. She's a wee woman. She was wearing at least two cardigans and her spindly legs disappeared into fur lined boots. She was trying to keep warm and save on the heating.   On her mantelpiece she had arranged three birthday cards that she had ... Read Full Story >>

A Message That Arrived 4 Years Later, Right On Time

My teenage daughter has always taken special delight in receiving anything in the mail. She squeals with glee and rips open every envelope and package the moment she takes it in her hands. A few nights ago, when we were sorting through a basket of cards and stationery, she discovered an unopened, brightly colored envelope addressed to her, bearing a postage date of over four years ago. "What is this?" she asked, incredulous. "How did I miss this? How did it get here?" I had idea and was just as curious to see what it could have been. She opened it up and inside was a beautiful greeting card and hand-written note from a school administrator at her former middle school. The woman had written a note to my daughter in praise of how much progress she had shown with her struggle in math class, and it noted how proud she was and how much my daughter should take pride in what she ... Read Full Story >>

Three Smiley Faces

I came in from my morning walk and found the maintenance man going out the door after changing our furnance filter. ''Hey !'' he exclaimed when he saw me.  ''There's the Cookie Lady !'' I gave him cookies several times when he was here repairing something in the past.

''Well, here, don't forget your cookies before you go!'' I said and grabbed the last two Smiley Face cookies I had baked a couple of days ago. I'm glad there were some left!  He left with a thank you and a big smile of his own :)

Small Change Makes A Big Difference

I had asked my 22 year old son to bring home some milk from the grocery store where he works as a supervisor.

Candy Boxes and Smile Cards

Yesterday I decided to give out candy with smile cards. 

I went out and bought some little boxes of candy.  Then I wrapped them up and taped smile cards on top.  I was not sure when or how to distribute them but I knew that the opportunity would present itself. 

I went about my dad as usual.  I had lunch with my mom and afterwards she asked me if i could mail some things for I said sure and I went to the post during my afternoon break at work to buy some stamps and mail my mum's things.  There came my first opportunity.  Before I left the post office, I gave the postal worker a box of candy and I aslo gave one to the guy who held the door for me. 

Later that day, I went to the grocery store to stock up on some groceries and I gave candy boxes to the checker and bagger at the grocery store. 

In the evening my cousin dropped by for a visit and I gave one to her and her daughter as well. 

Just before I went to bed, my dad asked me if there was any chance I had an extra stamp.  I did.  He got the last stamp and the last candy box ;-)

Sacred Space

When walking down the path of life,

Remember what I say,

That every man must feel the thorns,

That grow along the way,

And every soul will stumble,

For every man is weak,

And the road of life uncertain,                                                                     

It's prospects often bleak.

But always give a helping hand ,

A word of love, a smile, a hug,

To help the soul beside you walk

Across each weary mile.

 -Kate Furman

My New Kindness Friend at School

Being the disorganized high schooler I am, once again I forgot to take my Smile Cards to school with me today, but that didn't stop me on my mission.  On the way to school this morning I picked up a large bag of funsized choclates (60cents Australian each) to distribute at school.  During the day, whenever I found myself unnoticed in a corridor, I'd slip a chocolate into a locker anonymously. After school finished, I hung around an extra two hours until 5pm, so that I could get a clear go at one of the more open corridors in the school without getting 'caught'. This corridor had lockers of the yr 12s (highest school year, as well as very stressful) and I was making my way down with my chocolates when someone yelling behind me made me jump. "Oi!" someone shouted.  A girl I didn't know, coming from sports training, was running up to me. Her face was red and she looked angry.  ... Read Full Story >>

Tune Into Your Heart

Tune Into Your Heart

It is not so much what you say as the manner in which you say it;
It is not so much the language you use as the tone in which you convey it.

"Come here." I sharply said, and the child cowered and wept.
"Come here." I said--He looked and smiled and straight to my lap he crept.

Words may be mild and fair but the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air but the tone may break my heart;

For works come from the mind, grow by study and art--
But tone leaps from the inner self, revealing the state of the heart.

Whether you know it or not, whether you mean it or care,
Gentleness, kindness, love and hate, envy, anger, are there.

Then, would you quarrels avoid and peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your works--keep it out of your voice.

--- Author Unknown

Turning $100 Into An Unforgettable Day

When I was a young girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents, who lived in a community especially for the elderly and near to an old people's home. I remember when my sister and I played our instruments for them, which was something my grandparents had encouraged. They used to tell me that if someone elderly engages you in conversation, to make time for them, as you might be the only person they got to talk to that day. I've never forgotten this and still spare time to chat with an elderly person if they do engage me in conversation. So, when I saw the "make a suggestion for how your community would benefit from a $100" idea on this website, I immediately thought of the elderly! As one of the lucky people to win the $100 dollar kindness contest for my community (it converted to £56 in the UK), I then contacted my local community centre, and ... Read Full Story >>

You've Got Mail: Connecting With Grandparents

I kept wondering about ways to be kind. I hardly leave my room or the university and I hardly meet people. Then I remembered that my grandfather had bought a new computer and had learnt to use the web recently. My grandparents formed some of my first crystalline childhood memories. They would insist on taking me to the beach every day. I can still recall my grandfather holding my hand and taking me to a park with a duck-pond near my house. My grandmother would feed my cousins and me balls of rice, placing them on each outstretched hand, as we looked at the stars and the moon on hot summer nights. My grandfather would always buy orange juice when he knew I was going to make my twice weekly visit. They would drive over to our home with home made comfort food when I fell sick. These are just a few stories I can remember ... Read Full Story >>

Love Makes Us Better Than That

My wife Julie and I went to Glasgow today to support an actor friend in a show he was putting on. After getting to the city centre we had to travel a few stops on the city's underground rail line.

I couldn't help but notice a young couple sitting along from us. They were turned kinda sideways in their seat so she was leaning back against his chest. They looked comfortably in love.

The tube train took a corner and, somewhere, metal screeched against metal. The noise was painful.

Well, the young man winced and raised his hands to cover his ears. But, half way there, his hands stopped. They changed direction and he covered his girlfriend's ears instead.

Instinct makes us want to take care of ourselves - but then we have love to make us better than that!

A Lovely Little Old Lady's 90th Birthday

Last year, around Labor Day, I read a "Happy Ad" in our local newspaper.  There was a lady in a local nursing home, who was celebrating her 90th birthday and her family wanted everyone to know about it.  It said that if you wanted to drop her a line, here was her address.  So I did.  I found a birthday card and dropped her a short note, wishing her a happy birthday. A week or so later, someone knocked at my front door.  I opened the door and found a middle-aged man standing on my doorstep.  He introduced himself as the son of this woman to whom I had sent the card.  He explained that he just wanted to drop by in person and thank me for sending such a nice card to his mom.  Apparently, like many older folks, she did not receive much mail and was quite excited to receive mine.  I ... Read Full Story >>

All That A Simple Act Of Kindness Can Do

A simple act of kindness can change a person's whole day. What was once dark, dismal, and gray, you can make gay. It doesn't take much effort to impart something magnificent. I must tell you that a kind word has much force, far from insignificant. A simple act of kindness can be the difference between roads traveled, for instance, to a troubled person needing a lift out of sinking gravel. If you could save a life or a soul by giving a heartfelt greeting, I know you would. Or, stop to say: "Are you okay?" to a soul that was needing. A simple act of kindness can put color back into a grimacing face; Move someone from self-destruction and self-hate, So they can find redemption in God's loving grace. It need not be your life's work, but it can give worth to someone else's life: Turn away from strife to ... Read Full Story >>

More Than Just a Favour

I had an errand to do in Saltcoats today.  I arrived early so I decided to go for a walk by the harbourside. It was pouring down with rain but I had my new waterproof jacket on so I didn't really mind.  As I was walking along, I met someone who wasn't so lucky. He had swept back salt 'n' pepper hair, a bushy gray beard, sky blue eyes - and he was soaked through and through. "Could you do me a favour?" He held his hand out. "Probably not," I replied. Things had been tight financially and for the past fortnight I'd been telling my kids we can't do this and we can't afford that. "I've been trying to chase up the price of a beer," he continued. Well, I admired his honesty. If I'd been living on the street like he obviously had, a beer might have been important to me too. I ... Read Full Story >>

The Most Valuable Compensation

I accepted a position working part-time at a school. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be some times when it would be very busy. Right now is one of those times. I'm in the middle of the madness!   I don't mind staying late or going in after dinner to get things done – do you know why?  I am appreciated!  Even though my bosses’ hands are tied when it comes to my salary, they still let me know my worth in other ways. Last night I went to work at 7pm.  It wasn’t really required, but it was the first night of classes for the older kids in the religious education program. I wanted to make sure everything was in order. That all teachers were happy and the students got to their classrooms okay and all that sort of stuff was going smoothly.  My bosses were so happy to see me there. When ... Read Full Story >>

Why Elephants Don't Run

A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstage in Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus.  As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg.  No chains, no cages.  It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but, for some reason, they did not.  I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them.  As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away.  They ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness of Italian Grandmas

We were traveling in Italy recently and what really made our trip memorable are the encounters with Italian Grandmas. I had just crossed a busy road in Roma. A grandma right next to me sprinted across and came back with my toddler's missing shoe. I hadn't even noticed and she thought it would be easier to run twice than try to communicate with me through our language barrier :) Another time, I was looking for Fontana de Trevis and had wandered off in the name of looking at this and that. Out came a Grandma from a small cafe and she instantly knew I was lost. She took me by my hand and asked where I was headed. Then she went into a rapturous discourse about the fountain (I guess) and in 3 minutes, I was standing in front of the masterpiece. Just as she was about to disappear, she searched for ... Read Full Story >>

A Teacher's Gift

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class ... Read Full Story >>