Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The Eight-Year-Old Flower Seller

Last night’s mass transformed my life.  Since we arrived late for the homily, we positioned ourselves near the door.  It was during the offertory, though, that I saw a sight that changed my life in an instant -- a young boy ran up, took out a coin from his pocket and offered it to the collector.  I didn’t see the denomination, if it was a peso or five-peso, but it wasn't the amount that caught my attention. It was his way of giving gratitude to God for all the immeasurable blessings that he might've received.  And it was from a kid who was humbly selling Sampaguita flowers!  He who has little knows how to give back.  Watching his selfless act, I was totally speechless. Minutes passed and I was still trying to process what I had just witnessed.  Before me was a humbling experience -- a boy of young age, ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Karma on a Hot Summer Day

It is so often true that "what goes around, comes around," and that life lessons often walk in through the most unexpected doors. One hot summer, several years ago, my son and I were taking a trip by train. But first we had to take a bus into the city to the station to catch the train. I was a single Mom and as usual, since times were hard and money was very tight, we simply could not afford any extras. So we packed a large lunch bag of snacks and sandwiches, and had a small cooler filled with sodas to get us through the trip. We were still many miles from the train station, out in the middle of nowhere, when the bus suddenly completely broke down. The poor driver was mortified, and after calling ahead to the station, assured us, apologizing over and over, that they were sending another bus to rescue us. We ... Read Full Story >>

Keep Saying Thanks

"Thank you" - these are but just two words but mean so much to a person to whom it is spoken.

I have a habit of thanking every person, right from a salesman in a shop to the teachers in my class. Maybe habit is not the right word for when I thank them I really mean it. Often my friends mock me saying, ' Why are you thanking them, it's their job. They are paid for it. You needn't be obliged for that.'

But my take is different. As a person I love if someone thanks me for a good deed I did or if I helped them in any way. It fills me with happiness. So I thank those who have helped me.  

So I request you all to take a few minutes to thank a person today because just these two words can make him/her happy.

Grandma Like A Swan?

My granddaughter is studying totem poles in school, and she had to make one, using her family, for the animals on the pole.

The first one she said was her mother ... that she was a dog  because she was so beautiful.  The next one was for her baby sister, and she said a fox, because she was so sneaky.  Another one would be her Papa, an eagle, because he was so brave, and fought in Vietnam to serve the country.

She was trying real hard to figure out one for her older brother.  Eventually, she said she needed an animal that was annoying and decided on a rat!

Then she needed one for me. My grandson said, "Grandma is a swan."   Boy, did that make my day!    ME.... A SWAN!!!!!?????

First Experience In Giving Blood

Today, I gave blood for the first time.

I hate needles, so I was terrified going in, but I was determined to go through with it. I was worried I might faint, which would have been so embarassing!

I can't say the experience was enjoyable, but it wasn't half as bad as I had expected. There was only a slight pain, and my nurse was so kind and friendly. I felt a bit light-headed when I stood up, but the orange juice and biscuits I was given soon sorted that out!

But once it as all over, the realisation that the simple little thing that I had just done could save somebody's life in the near future made it 100% worth it.

I would encourage everybody to give blood, or at least inquire about it, because it is such an easy way to make a huge difference for somebody...maybe even the difference between life and death.

A Slice Of Love In the Supermarket Aisle

I was working in a supermarket promoting a new variety of bread.  My job was to hand out slices of bread; it was very monotonous and at times very hard to keep motivated saying the same thing over and over again.

So I decided to change it up, and alter my perspective on the situation.  With a piece of bread in my hand, I started to say, "Would you like to try a slice of love?  And I'm also giving away free hugs today."

And so I started hugging complete strangers, as they passed by my aisle.

The reactions of the people absolutely blew me away!  An older lady said she had not been hugged in two years.  I was so moved by our brief conversation that I decided that I'm always going to be ever-ready to share my hugs freely – you just never know who might need them!

A Question to A Four Year Old

During dinner, we had a 'small talk conversation' when we asked our 4-year-old Lola:  "Lola, who do you love the most?  Mum, Dad, or someone else?"

She promptly replied, "I don't want to make a choice.   I love everybody! Sometimes people do things I do not like, but I like them still."

I'm usually the one to respond very quickly, but I was speechless after this major lesson.

Sometimes there is a great teacher, an avatar, very near me but when I'm not really paying attention, I miss the opportunity for a very precious lesson.

Looking For the Magical Mustard Seed

There is an old Chinese tale about a woman whose only son died. In her grief, she went to the holy man and said, "What prayers, what magical incantations do you have to bring my son back to life?" Instead of sending her away or reasoning with her, he said to her, "Fetch me a mustard seed from a home that has never known sorrow. We will use it to drive the sorrow out of your life." The woman went off at once in search of that magical mustard seed. She came first to a splendid mansion, knocked at the door, and said, "I am looking for a home that has never known sorrow. Is this a place? It is very important to me." They told her, "You've certainly come to the wrong place," and began to describe all the tragic things that recently had befallen them. The woman said to herself, "Who is ... Read Full Story >>

Taking Someone In

One of my friends has never known how to take care of herself.  Ever since high school, when her grandma passed away, she just gave up hope on anything and stopped caring about herself or anyone around her.  Her mom is just as bad as she is -- still jumping around and staying with random people or with her other daughter who is 15.  During her struggle, I took my "friend" in.  I say "friend" because she has never said a thank you or given anything back.  I let her stay with me for a long time, fed her, let her wear my clothes and even sleep in bed at times.  I say at times because she got pregnant and her back was always hurting.  I have a child of my own, so it was especially hard to take care of someone else that acts like a child.  But I ... Read Full Story >>

Coffee For Two For Who?

Last night my husband, another friend and our children went out for dinner. 

When it came time to pay the bill, I asked the waitress to add two coffees to the bill.  She thought I was crazy until I said to her:  "Please use this money to pay for the next two people that come in for coffee. "

I then gave her a smile card and asked her to give it to them.  She read the card agreed to do it and not to pass on my name (we live in a SMALL town.) 

So I'm not sure who I bought coffe for, but then, it really doesn't matter.

Shipwrecked Prayers

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On ... Read Full Story >>

A Happy Bus Driver

Upon receiving my Smile cards I decided to put it to the test and see what happened.  Being summer here in South Africa now, it becomes rather hot and Thursday was one such day.

I decided to buy a cool drink for the driver of our Metro bus and give it to him on boarding the bus on my way home.  Having purchased the cool drink, I boarded the bus and paid, after which I produced the drink and smile card.

I sure wish you could have been there to see the man's face break into the biggest smile which I have ever seen.  According to him, it was the first time in the 37 years of being a driver that he had received some sort of acknowledgment from anybody. 

This brought a smile to my face and a tear to my heart.

Thanks to helpothers.org for my smile cards.

Witnessing An Act of Kindness

While waiting in line at the grocery store, a young girl with 3 babies, was ahead of me in line.  She had lots of food for her babies, and when the total was rung she was over 20 dollars short. I felt for her but had no more money with me to help, as she started putting the food back.

Just then, a gentle voice came from behind me.  It was an elderly woman.  She said, "Don't put those baby's food back.   God has this covered with a blessing I got yesterday in the mail.  I knew He had something in mind for it." 

With a sweet smile she handed the cashier the money and wished the good mother a blessed life. 

It was a gentle, beautiful and selfless.  How she touched my heart with her special kindness.  I had a smile all day knowing there are wonderful people around me!

Lost and Found: A Ten Dollar Bill

Last week I was visiting my best friend in Cincinnati.  One morning as we walked to breakfast, I spotted a piece of paper on the street and it turned out to be a $10 bill!  I was determined to use it as a special treat and carried it around for two days as we brainstormed ways to spend it. Since we are both huge fans of Dairy Queen, we decided to head there after dinner on my last day in town. His blizzard and my sundae came to $5, so when the employee handed me $5 bill as change, I turned around to the lady (and her son) behind me and said, "Here, this is for you!"  Seeing her startled reaction, I told her, "I found $10 the other day and since we've already received our treat, you guys should enjoy the rest!"  She was very gracious and took the money and ... Read Full Story >>

Getting a Smile on the Road!

While sitting at the traffic lights yesterday, a young boy approached the window of my car. 

A little bit hesitant to wind the window down, I did it thinking "What's the worst that can happen?!"

Much to my amazement, the boy handed me a card and said, "Today, I'm doing kind things for others to promote anonymous acts of kindness.   I dont know you but I hope you will follow my lead.   Smile.  You've been tagged!  Pass it on."

Then he walked away.

That just really made my day. How awesome is it for someone to take time out to make others smile!!

And now im going to do the same. Smiles are indeed contagious!

My Simple Smile Card Story

About a month ago I learned about “smile cards,” which can be found at www.helpothers.org. Smile cards are “an experiment in anonymous kindness,” as stated on each card. Each card, when used in the spirit intended, serves at least two immediate purposes. One, it becomes the physical marker of an event of anonymous kindness. This is important because, physically persisting, it can serve as the template for the perpetuation of the idea of itself: new acts of anonymous kindness. As an object carrying an explanation of itself, it also will serve as a reference point for the recipient of the anonymous act of kindness who, besides being grateful may well be befuddled. Anonymous acts of kindness verge on the incomprehensible to most of us in this culture. The mere idea remains a little shocking. Imagine how disorienting it might be to receive an anonymous act ... Read Full Story >>

What Can You Do With Ten Bucks?

The week before Thanks Giving, I did a little experiment with my class, leaving $200 in ten-dollar bills outside my classroom.  Lots of great stories unfolded. Katrina Kapetanovic was one amongst the students.  Like everyone else in the class she struggled mightily with what to do with her $10.  Some quotes from her essay:   "What if I got a bunch of people to each give $10 to a beneficial cause?  Could that do more good?  Will it really end up making a substantial difference long after the money was given?  I still find myself to be stuck, constantly researching and questioning myself and how I could get the $10 to trickle down.   It doesn't seem like it could do a whole lot of good for just one person with $10 to give it away.   That is when it suddenly dawned on me.  This $10 serves as a reminder that I need to ... Read Full Story >>

Planting Date Palms

[A Sufi Story]

Harun al-Rashid was once walking through a plantation when he saw a hunched man with a long, gray beard, putting in sapling date palms. He greeted him, saying, ‘Take it easy, father!’

‘Thank you, my son,’ the old man replied.

‘What are you doing, father?’ he asked the old man.

‘As you see, I am planting sapling date palms.’

‘How many years does it take a date palm to bear fruit?’

‘Ten, twenty, thirty years. Some take as long as a hundred years.’

‘Will you be able to eat the fruit of these palms you are planting?’

‘I may not live to see the day,’ said the old man, ‘but we eat from those our forebears planted. So let us plant, that those who follow us may eat in turn!'

Run Shay, Run!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. 'I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay ... Read Full Story >>

Being Present

She looked really pretty, I thought, as I glanced across at the young lady opposite me. Everything from her manicured nails, to her designer sunglasses symbolized that she was the kind of girl who had it all. I stared at the floor, at the large European woman in the seat next to the pretty lady, and back at the floor. I studied the tube map - again - as if I had to check something important, then starred resolutely back at the floor. I had mastered the art of avoiding eye-contact on the Tube as if my very existence depended on it. I was a Pro. But, I couldn't help wonder what the pretty lady was doing. I was acting dumb, but I wasn't dead. Why was she fidgeting so much? She's never going to sleep in that awkward position....is something wrong? She looks like she's drunk, not sleeping. Maybe she has a ... Read Full Story >>