Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The Best Hug I've Ever Had

When I was 9, my sister, two other friends and I used to go to local nursing homes to sing for the elderly on Sunday afternoons. 

One Sunday we went to see the elderly and a little lady was having her 102nd birthday party. 

The staff told us we had to leave because of the party.  The lady immediately said, "Oh no.  They are here to entertain my guests."  I'll never forget how important I felt that day -- entertaining her and her guests on her special day. 

A few months later she passed away.  Bless her heart for including us in such a glorious time.

When we had finished singing that day, she insisted we have a big piece of cake and punch. Then she gathered us each in her arms and hugged us.  I think that might have been the best hug I've ever had.  We were there to make her feel good but she made me feel good too.  I'll never forget that bright sparkle in her eyes when she called us her singing angels.

The Magic Wallet

While I was waiting to board a domestic flight at the airport, I began observing one gentleman of medium height and of medium build who carried himself with dignity.  He was walking with his wife and his two children,a boy and a girl.  They appeared to be a happy family.   I could see the love of the father for his wife and children whom he adored.  When the time finally came for the man to go to the security check line, he picked up his daughter and planted kisses and whispered some thing into her ears.  He then bent and caressed his son and patted him on the back and waved to the wife.  I could see that his eyes were turning misty and the same emotions could be seen with his wife and children.  He gave a last look and started his walk briskly and never looked back.  ... Read Full Story >>

Be The Dew

Someone was retelling a memory of her childhood on an Iowa Farm. She had fond memories of the dew of summer mornings. The coolness of the new dawn and the grass would be deliciously wet on her small bare feet. Her father once told her how his corn crop could be saved in a dry season if there was enough heavy dew each day. That moisture on the leaves could be absorbed by the plant and would help it to survive.

Isn't that like our own lives? Sometimes we are in a tough spot and all we have is a little DEW. Yet this bit of spiritual moisture or help from God is enough to see us through until times get better. Our simple kind act towards friends and strangers is that same dew for others. It's not the amount of money or how much time spent on others, they don't need a great rainfall...its the fact that we spent time, and shared ourselves with them....it's our dew to them.

It Doesn't Take Much

I recently  heard of family down on their luck.  There were mouths to feed and clothe, BUT no money to get it done. 
I made a few calls and mentioned it at work and sure enough I had a bag of clothing for the children. Yesterday I received some more from a lady at work. Her daughter had passed away at age 8 and she said she had trouble parting with her daughter's clothing but she knew these clothes would go to good use.

It doesn't take much to help out...just a voice! 

$20 Bill

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.  In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up.  He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.  He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.  He then asked, "Who still wants it?"  Still the hands were up in the air.  Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.  He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.  "Now, who still wants it?"  Still the hands went into the air.    My friends, “We have all learned a very valuable lesson”. “No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.  It was still worth ... Read Full Story >>

It Doesn't Stop With Umbrellas

I have a good friend, Tom, who keeps extra umbrellas in his car.  On rainy days he drives by bus stops and hands free umbrellas to anyone who needs one.  Yesterday, a young man knocked on my door.  He was canvasing the neighborhood setting up appointments for free window replacement estimates.  He stood far from my door and spoke carefully.  I knew why.  Despite much progress, stereotypes are still very real.  I knew this young African-American man was not getting a whole lot of doors opened in my neighborhood.   I opened my door wide and we chatted for a few minutes.  He visibly relaxed.  Before he turned around to leave, I noticed it was about to rain.  I asked him if he would be okay in the rain. He told me that he needed to finish out the block before he could return to his car which was parked several blocks ... Read Full Story >>

Daily Homework

I am a recovering alcoholic.  Years ago I went into a hospital because of depression.  My life was a mess, my husband wanted a divorce. My daughter was doing drugs.  Everything in my life was coming apart including me. My girlfriend's father came to see me.  He was a big, barrel chested Irishman, who loved wearing Nike sweatshirts that said "JUST DO IT".  Upon my release from the hospital, he began to take me to AA meetings, and we would meet for coffee, or go to his house where he and his Alcoholics Anonymous member wife slowly helped me back to life. They gave me a homework assignment.  I was to stand in front of my mirror and look into my eyes and say, "you are a beautiful person, you deserve a good life, I care about you, I love you".  He said, "JUST DO IT". Every night he would call at ... Read Full Story >>

Just With A Hug

There is a young girl that works in my office who has had a lot of tragedy in her life lately.  While I have a hard time relating to her life style, it hasn't been hard for me to detect her sadness lately.  Today, I offered her a hug and she accepted with open arms...I think I needed it to, because we stood there and embraced for a while.  She cried and I listened...it's amazing how much tears can release from ones body and how much another can learn from those tears.  She thanked me and walked away.  About an 1/2 hour later, she stood up from her desk and looked at me and asked for another hug, and I most definitely was happy to provide it.    Don't ever underestimate the effects that a hug or smile can have on another person. I will hold her deep in thoughts tonight, ... Read Full Story >>

Helping Out A Mother In Need

Today while I was at work, a friend of mine came in my office, closed the door and starting weeping uncontrollably. It seems her ex-husband had hurt her daughter. The daughter mentioned it to a teacher and it got reported to child services! My friend is down on her luck, and lives pay check to pay check and no credit cards. We have had  a tough winter and heating bills are piling up and the cupboards are almost bare! It seems the child protective services will be making visits to both houses/ hers and ex-husbands. She was crying because there was leak in her  ceiling and not much food in the house....and she was afraid they would think she was unfit.  I tried to talk to her and calm her down and tell her that her house is clean and neat, she didn't hurt her daughter, so please don't worry.   ... Read Full Story >>

The Helpothers Comment That Created a Life Long Memory

I know I have said this before, but please don't ever think your comments or stories don't matter. You never know when your words may make a huge difference to someone else. If you follow the kindness ripple from one comment, you will see what I mean... It started with a comment from someone on one of my stories. Her words were simple, "It reminds me of the song Cinderella by Stephen Curtis Chapman." One of her favorites but one I have never heard. I thought I would give it a listen. Sounded good. Thanks to the internet, I not only found the CD but it turns out there is a small storybook that goes with it to tell the story in the song. I ordered it and let her know that I did. She was very excited for me and that I would get to share this with my 4 ... Read Full Story >>

Sharing An Illness

I wanted to share with you a poem my husband wrote for me about living with IIH from his perspective. I must admit it moved me to tears.

How I cope with "our" illness,
I really just can't say.
Don't make too many plans,
Try and live just day by day.

Some days there'll be ups,
And some days there'll be downs.
Some days there'll be hospitals,
Drips,tubes and gowns.

I've always been quite mellow,
A chilled out kind of guy.
But it broke my heart in two,
When I thought that she might die.

There's one thing I am sure of,
It's "our" illness not our life.
The other thing I am sure of,
Is Heidi, my friend,my lover,my wife.

It's not like we've got cancer,
And pretty soon we'll die.
Just keep getting up each morning,
Never give up and always try.

Sandpiper To Bring You Joy

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea. "Hello," she said.  I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child. I'm building," she said.  "I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring. "Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by.  "That's a joy," the child said. "It's a what?" "It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy." The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on. ... Read Full Story >>

Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, 'Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over.' I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead 'I will come next Tuesday', I promised a little reluctantly on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren. 'Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!' My daughter smiled calmly and said, 'We drive in this all the time, Mother.' 'Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, ... Read Full Story >>

Running for Change

On sunday it was a typical british summer day, raining. However my family and I, along with thousands of other people across britain that day, dragged ourselves from bed. Why, to run. In the rain around our local dockyard, to raise money for sports relief. This is a fund that is used to benefit disadvantaged children all around the world. Buy them school books maybe even a shool, health care and clean water sources. Just one mile and £50.00 of sponsorship money can give a child in Africa an education. I don't know whether there is anything similar in any other countries but I just wanted to say that if there is, get involved. The feeling that you get when you are out of breath, cold, and soaking wet is great, because you know that it has made some sort of difference.  Every little helps.

A big well done to everyone that took part. love chuckles xxxooo.

Caught In the Train Tracks

I was speaking with my sister on the phone last night and we got into a conversation about her work. She works in a market. I asked her how come her market doesn't have wheel chairs with baskets. She wasn't sure why but explained to me when someone comes in the store in a wheel chair they offer personal assistance and a worker will walk around the store with them and shop, helping with reaching hard to get items. What a nice way for someone in that situation to connect with folks I thought. Conversation while shopping and getting to know one another personally. My sister ended up telling me she saw one of the regular wheel chair shoppers while driving home. He appeared to be caught on the train track as cars just rode by him in the slow rain that day. It was an area where the train would have been ... Read Full Story >>

An Unexpected Gift For My Grandchildren

One of my daughters gave birth to twin boys a couple of months ago. This was a bit of a surprise even to her because they didn't find the second heart-beat until a month before they were due. This, of course, means needing twice as much baby stuff. Last evening she went to the laundry mat to do up what clothes they did have. The twins are always getting attention wherever they go and the laundry mat was no exception. A couple of ladies were making over them when one of the ladies left to go out to her car and came back with a bag full of really nice baby boy clothes including 2 sets of Micheal Jordan tennis shoes! The girl said she had these in her car forever and didn't know what she was gonna do with them other than donating them to Goodwill. God sure works wonders, doesn't he?

If I Had To Raise Our Child Again

If I Had my Child To Raise Over Again   IF I had my child to raise all over again, I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less and know to care more. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites. I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars, I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often, I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I'd model less about the love of power, And more about the power of love.   --Diane Loomans ... Read Full Story >>

Strange Coincidences

Usually, I give $85 of every check to my church. Well, the last two checks, I either forgot my checkbook or hadn't gone to church, so I have $170 budgeted to go somewhere other than my needs.

Today, my friend got online and asked a huge favor--she just started a second job and doesn't get paid til next Thursday, but rent is due today; can she borrow $150?

Well how bout that--she sure can! Is God cool or what?

Happy weekend, all!

Victim Treats His Mugger Right

Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner. But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn. He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife. "He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says. As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm." The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing ... Read Full Story >>

Poem on Every Smile

everything going on in the world is because of someone,
because of you, because of me.
we are all to blame.
every cutter, every suicide, every explosion.

we are also responsible for all the good things,
every hug, smile, laugh, a feeling of acceptance.
happiness is just a state of mind,
when we dwell on the negatives, not the positives,
it makes life a lot harder, it makes things worse.

but when we open our eyes,
look to the sky
open our minds and souls
we see, that it's just a beatutiful day.

things in this world need to change,
we need to do somthing.
but we need to fix ourselves, first.
you can't help someone else, until you help yourself