Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Spare Change

A few days ago while I was walking with my husband at the park I noticed a man on a bench along the pond. He was dressed neatly, but he had a shopping cart filled with items. I realized he must be homeless.

Yesterday when we went, I wanted to make conversation with him but he wouldn't even look my way for a SMILE.  He was at the same bench as the day before.

When he left the bench and walked away with his shopping cart, I grabbed whatever spare coins I had in my pocket and scattered them under his bench. I hope he finds them when he returns. If not, some kids might find them and buy a treat.

Alraisi inspired me to do more without hurting his pride...I am going to buy a bag of apples and hand them to him when I walk tomorrow.  Wish me Luck. ~Aurelia

Bubble 911

I will try to write a clear story so that others may find it enjoyable to read. My grandaughter Zoey wil be 11 years old on 9/11. Her favorite word is bubble; that's the reason for my title. Zoey and I live 800 miles apart; Lack of money keeps me from personal visits with her. We talk every week on the phone. Zoey is "personality plus!"  She asks serious, thoughtful questions, such as, "Grandma, what do you think of capital punishment?" At other times and in different moods, she chats about "friend stuff." We share our favorite colors, numbers, names, books, and so on. Zoey and I even give each other spelling and math tests; we have lots of fun! I feel truly privileged to know this young woman who I call my grandaughter. You see, Zoey was an emergency  caesarean section; she was born with her umbilical  cord wrapped around ... Read Full Story >>

The Power of a Smile

We are so busy that we have lost our smile. This is also affecting our children. While going for a morning walk I find children with their parents waiting with a blank face for their school bus.

Since smile  is contagious. I decided to wish them good morning with a smile and sure enough there was a return smile. Now I find these small tiny tots are all the while waiting for me. When they see me from the distance  they start smiling. In fact there is a sort of competition as to who wishes good morning first. This also affects their parents and they also smile and laugh. It is really a very pleasing morning.

It is said that some of your acquantances may be too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours . No body needs a smile so much  as those who have none left to give. Light them up with your smile.

A Carpenter's House

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the job was done, the carpenter called his employer and showed him the house. The employer handed over some papers and the front door key ... Read Full Story >>

My Kindness Mentor

We are invited to a family gathering during our visit in CA  (including my Mom) at my My Sister-in-law, D's home. She had decided to host a BBQ in honor of our visit. She instructed us not to bring anything except ourselves. We, of course, brought a big box of speciality chocolates to share with the group. (Mom taught me never to visit anyone empty handed). There were huge steaks, pork loins, homemade potato salad, fresh berries, apple pie a la mode and more! Quite a spread. I tried to assist her in the kitchen but she wanted me to go back to join the group and catch up. I noticed how hard she and her hubby were working to feed the group. They could not spend as much time as her siblings and parents chatting with us. They were too busy cooking, serving and cleaning up. Early the next day, my Mom grabbed her car keys stating, "Come on!". We were off to the ... Read Full Story >>

A Turning Point

I live with a gentleman friend and his fourteen year-old son; he and his son usually do not get along. know it's a problem for this adult to relate to his adolescent, even though the adult is 35 yrs. older.

The teen needed some fresh new white socks and some new boxers. I suggested to my male friend when we were shopping alone that "Issac" needs some clothes. My friend insisted that his son appreciates nothing and deserved nothing. I secretly purchased the items. I called my friend aside later, when everyone was home. I handed him the bag full of surprises and asked him to simply give it to Issac. I urged him to ask no questions.

He did as I requested. Issac's brown eyes shone when he saw the gifts and filled with tears as he read the SMILE card and hugged his dad. I will always treasure the moment when my friend started crying, realizing Issac thought he purchased the items. To date, it's been a turning point in their often rocky relationship.

My Son That Taught Me A Lesson

I read the story entitled ''A Blazer, Red Scarf, and Fifty Bucks'' and it reminded me of my own son, Erik.

He took me to a health food store one day to buy me things I needed since I am on a special diet. As we were paying for these items, he ran off as if he had forgotten something. He came back with a gallon of water and a large bag of nuts. I didn't think much of it, but as we were leaving the parking lot , he stopped the car. He got out and placed the 2 items down beside a homeless woman who we had seen driving in. She was sitting under a shade tree talking to herself. She never looked up but as we drove away, we saw her place the water and nuts in her cart of probably her only belongings in the world.

''Why didn't I suggest that?'' I asked myself. But I was so proud he did what he did.

Pen Pals At The Airport

I travel a fair amount for work, and almost every hotel room I stay in has at least one pen.  If I pick it up even once to jot down a voice mail message or to scribble down a random idea that pops into my head, the pen usually ends up in my backpack and no matter how many times I have scolded myself to "LEAVE THE PENS" they somehow sneak home with me. A few years ago on a trip home I was waiting in line at the airport gate counter and the agent was frustrated because a customer had inadvertently walked off with her last pen.  I opened up my backpack and sure enough there were 5 pens, so I handed over all five and said, "Keep the change!"  She was so appreciative of the small gesture that I began packing 5 pens for every trip.  The airline employees ... Read Full Story >>

Baby On The Way

Some years ago, my 19 year old girlfriend, one of my best friends became pregnant. She wasn't married and her parents were not pleased with the situation as she had little brothers and sisters living at home. They felt it was best if she moved out while she was pregnant and stay away until she had the baby. She was to give her baby up for adoption. I felt so badly for her. She got an apartment above a store and lived alone.  I was young myself and didn't know what to do for her. I would visit her often. The hardest visits were always after a doctor's visit because she would hear the baby's heartbeat and she wanted so badly to KEEP the baby and raise it. She would hug a stuffed animal and cry...I would be there and hug her and tell her everything will be better, but in my ... Read Full Story >>

The Hug!

It's wonderous what a hug can do.

A hug can cheer you when you're blue.

A hug can say, "I love you so,"

Or, "Gee, I hate to see you go."

A hug is, "Welcome back again."

And, "Great to see you! Where've you been?"

A hug can soothe a small childs pain,

and bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug! There's just no doubt about it-

we scarcely could survive without it!

A hug delights and warms and charms.

It must be why God gave us arms.

A hug can break the language barrier,

and make your travels so much merrier.

No need to fret about your store of 'em,

the more you give, the more there's more of 'em.

So stretch those arms without delay

and give someone a hug today!

-Author Unknown-

Lift To An Anonymous Old Man

Since we don’t know the way, we have to ask for directions every two minutes. Instead of mapquest-dot-com, India relies on human beings. That’s bad in some ways, that’s inefficient in certain other ways, but it’s heartwarming in few very important ways. - Nipun And so it was that an elderly man asked me directions for some Nirmala Convent in Malleswaram. It was a few days ago, I was just leaving the hospital to visit home after having spent the morning with my new born son. I was just starting my scooter, when he approached me. I had no idea about the location, but I knew a Cluny Convent school since I’d studied there and guessing by other details he’d said, I felt it might be somewhere around. I was just about to leave, but he looked tired, so I offered him a lift. I was wondering if he’d manage to sit on the rather ... Read Full Story >>

A Chair For Our Friend Walt

We live in a small town and the staff at our office frequent a small coffee shop on a regular basis for our morning coffee break. We get to meet all sorts of people who are regulars. One older couple who came in regularly on Thursdays and we would greet them and exchange a few words.  They had travelled from an adjacent community to do their grocery shopping (they liked our smaller town because there was less traffic).  They would hold hands and smile as they came in each Thursday morning.  One Thursday we saw that the husband came in alone. He looked tired and stressed out.  It turned out that his wife had taken ill and was in the hospital. I think he continued to come in for the next few Thursdays as a diversion from the stress of his wife's illness. We didn't see him for some time and then ... Read Full Story >>

Four Girls Who Pushed My Car

Being a single mother, working a few jobs and trying to finish my schooling leaves very little time for a social life. So when I had a date with a guy I had met, I was super excited! I had a sitter who my daughter loved to play with and kissed her goodbye. I started off in my jalopy of a car. The thought to get gas crossed my mind, but I ignored it, wanting to be punctual. I was cruising down the freeway when I realized there was no way I would make it and should pull off at the next exit to get gas. Well that next exit was quite a few miles and as I got off my car sputtered to a stop. I restarted it and it went another block, so I could see the station now! With the car dead in the lane I became ... Read Full Story >>

The Seed Has A Sprout

I am a single mother of a darling 6 year old girl, Haley. With a six year old come a lot of questions! Who is that? What are they doing? Why? Where...and on and on.  I love her questions! Sometimes I do not have an answer, sometimes we brainstorm the possibilities of what may be together. Children are very, very observant and have excellent memories! One example that comes to mind is right around Christmas last year. We were heading out to her Grandma's house -- an hour drive, so lots of time for chatting!  We were waiting to get on the freeway when she noticed a homeless man, no sign in hand. "Mom, is that man homeless," she asked.  I told her I believed he was. We got on the freeway and away we went. She was pretty quiet in the back on they way there. We spent a ... Read Full Story >>

How My Father Taught Me Non-Violence

I was 16 years old and living with my parents at the institute my grandfather had founded 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa, in the middle of the sugar plantations. We were deep in the country and had no neighbors, so my two sisters and I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or go to the movies. One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I was going to town, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and, since I had all day in town, my father ask me to take care of several pending chores, such as getting the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, 'I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and we will go home together.' After hurriedly completing ... Read Full Story >>

Secret Angel

My older sister and her companion recently broke up after about 4-5 years together.  It has been really hard on my sister so i wanted to do something to make things a little easier for her.  I got a gift bag and filled it with different things she likes (tiger things and things with smiles) and a poem telling her that things will get easier with time and that she has people that love her and are praying for her.  I signed it from her SECRET ANGEL.  While everyone was away from her house one day i snuck over and stuck it in between her two doors so i was sure she would find it when she got home. 

Let's just say she was in total shock and still to this day has no idea who would do something so nice for her!!!!  It made her smile which she hasn't been doing to much of lately but it is also driving her crazy trying to figure out who it is!!!!

All It Takes Is One

One song can spark a moment,

One flower can wake the dream.

One tree can start a forest,

One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,

One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,

One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation,

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness,

One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey.

One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,

One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom,

One heart can know what’s true,

One life can make a difference,

You see, it’s up to you!

Drive-By Lift

[ Last time I posted a story and the response I received was overwhelming. Truly, I felt great inside. Thanks a lot to all for your appreciation. Today I am posting another story. ] Last Sunday, I got ready to visit my daughter. She lives with her mother in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. I stay about 35 kms. away and go every sunday to be with my daughter. Usually I carry balloons for her.  In fact, balloons have become my trademark of my fatherhood. That's how my daughter recognizes me! :) This time, though, I left from home feeling a bit lazy. I would have actually left half an hour earlier but somehow I  was lazy in doing my chores and left a bit late. As usual, I drove to nearby garden to get some balloons but it was Sunday morning time and no balloon-wala was around.  So I thought, "Why not get ... Read Full Story >>

Small Child, Big Heart

I want to share a surprise letter I received from my 9 year old son just the other day:

Dear mum,

You are the best mum I've ever had.  You always complete me.  You have the best smile I could ever look at.  You always full my heart with love.  You are my very important person.

I love you very, very, much.

love from your precious son Jaxon.

Isn't it wonderful that a chld so young can come from the heart? 

Spread the love everyone.  The negative energy is stronger than ever, so let's spread the positivity!

Just A Text Message

One of my main ways of communicating to the outside world is texting. I feel really blessed by the wonderful people I have in my life, and each day I just feel so grateful for them.
 
Through out the week, I randomly text these special people, saying something thoughtful and nice, sometimes its long, other times, it’s just a short sweet message, saying good night and wishing them a sweet sleep.   
 
These small messages have such a wonderful affect on them. Sometime I won’t see that person for a week or more, and the first thing they say to me, is thank you for the beautiful text you sent me last week.
 
It’s just a small act of kindness I can do for other people, it’s just awesome randomly letting people know how much I appreciate them and are grateful for them, for no reason or occasion, just because I can.