Stories by pluto178 (6 matches)

Thank You For Your Thank You

This morning I received a beautiful hand-made card in the post. The envelope was marked "Thank you!" and I didn't open it immediately whilst I tried to work out who it had come from. Who could be saying thanks to me?   Happily I had a few choices. When I opened it I discovered it was from a lady I had sent a free gift to on eBay.    She was completely overwhelmed by this random act of kindness from a stranger and has since joined the HelpOthers family.   She had made the card especially for me with pink butterflies on the front. It was lovely! The thing that surprised me the most was that she actually used the words "I love you" to me. How wonderful to be such a positive spirit as to love so freely . Most of us are very cautious when using those three words.     I hope she enjoys ... Read Full Story >>

6071 Reads

A Spin Cycle of Kindness

When I moved into my new house it already had a washing machine in it but I had just bought a new one so I wondered what to do with the machine already in the house.  I remembered two girls who regularly knocked at my door for religious reasons.  They never had or kept anything they didnt need.  If one of them needed something, say a winter coat, they would work for the amount of time it took to make the money they needed for the coat and then return to their religious work. They had just got their own house so I decided to give them all the things I didn't need when I was done unpacking. Whatever they didn't need, they could give to the charity store they helped support. I asked them if they needed a washing machine and they both looked at each other and smiled. It turns out that they had called ... Read Full Story >>

5217 Reads

Two Rugs For The Price Of One

I recently sold a rug and when the lady came to collect it we helped her load it into the car.  She had two small children with her and had just moved house. From what she said I understood it was quite a job getting the place into shape! She was delighted with the rug as it would cover "a multitude of sins."    I felt I would like to have given her the rug but, as I was selling it for my daughter, I could not. But I did have another rug of my own which I was able to let her have free of charge!   She was very appreciative and went off with both rugs as happy as she could be.    That week we had had several problems of our. By giving our rug to this lady it lifted our spirits and probably made us feel even better than she did. I had ... Read Full Story >>

2324 Reads

No Change, Please

During a shopping trip into town one day, my son and I noticed a lot of homeless people. These days, we've been seeing a lot more people on the streets, and we felt compelled to help. So we made a deal with each other. We went to the cash machine and withdrew some cash. Then we gave ourselves a certain amount we could give away to the homeless people whom we encountered. Once we have given away that set amount, we stop. We had a lovely day out, and on the way home, a young girl asked us for help. We had given all our cash away already, so we passed her. But as we walked on, I couldn't help but think she looked so in need of a decent meal. At the same time, my son blurted, "Mum, I know we have spent all our cash, but could we just go back and ... Read Full Story >>

2171 Reads

Lesson about Anonymous Receiving

Recently I learned the lesson that to receive and be unable to say thank you is more challenging than I had thought. I like to do things anonymously; that way nobody has to say "thank you" or "aren't you wonderful." I've always felt that giving without the need for thanks is a great way to give. Today I received a beautiful rose in the post and I have no idea who it came from, or even why I deserve it...but I am so very very grateful for such kindness towards me and I feel strange not being able to say "thank you" to whoever sent it. So you know who you are and I shall not press you and destroy your true giving nature, for  kindness and gratitude truly speak to me when thanks cannot be given; it is then that you know the act was not done for praise or for people ... Read Full Story >>

874 Reads

Is it Time for Tea?

I looked after a friend for what I thought would be a few weeks, but turned into 12 years. She was normal, whatever that is, when I began to look after her following a stroke, but as time went by I began to notice more and more problems.

I learned that to rush her if we were late for tea was futile. She had to go through the process of putting on her lipstick, turning out the light, looking around the room and shutting the door. If I tried to help by turning out the light or closing the door, her routine was broken and we would be lucky if we ever got that cup of tea.

Sometimes I would tease her by putting out the light and then turning it back on. Eventually, she would laugh at something that at one time would have send her into a spiral of chaos. 

I learned patience from her. I learned she was a remarkable woman. By the time she died, she knew she was loved, she was funny, a great listener, caring and available to anyone who might need her ear. 
 

531 Reads



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