Stories Matching 'A Giving Heart' Tag (163 matches)



Instant Karma & Blessings!

I was really broke. I had only $10 and didn't have time to eat breakfast or pack my own lunch that day. As I drove my son to school, I noticed a man walking up the road. I'd seen him before - elderly, worn, dressed in whatever rags he could find and leaning on a piece of a branch as a walking stick. Usually I'd always pack 2 sandwiches in case I saw him or anyone else in need. I also noticed a lady selling fresh fruit cups ($5) & fruit bowls ($7) on the roadside. I prayed I'd see him when I came back in that direction to go to work. I did, and he was sitting on the bus stop bench right next to the fruit vendor! I pulled over, purchased a bowl of fruit for $7, told her to keep the change and immediately turned to give the ... Read Full Story >>

3322 Reads

The Universe Gives Me What I Need When I Need It

I have enough of.....everything! I realized this morning as I was thinking about the idea of sufficient that the universe has given me exactly what I have needed when I needed it.

I am grateful for this revelation which made me want to give more of myself to everyone that I met. I was on the train and had the pleasure to speaking to three older women...who did not feel like strangers... for 55 minutes which gave me such joy because I am enough.

I am grateful for the love of my son who hugs me everyday and tells me he loves me....I have enough love. I am grateful for my friends because they are enough.....and I am grateful for the friends who are no longer friends because what they gave me was enough.

Thank you Universe for providing me with enough every single day.

4542 Reads
  • Posted by shatoddy
  • Jan 10, 2015
  • 16 Comments
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Gratitude Power

I have a loving family, that despite our differences and our distance, we remain close at heart and open and always there to support each other.

I am grateful that my integrity and character remain intact and not jaded by hurtful situations or by what appears to be socially acceptable these days.

I'm inspired by the words "treat others as you want to be treated" and I am grateful that I practice this method.

I'm more than grateful to live in a beautiful place, surrounded by all that is breathtaking, from oceans to forests, rivers,lakes, fall, and mountains.

Last but not least, I am grateful that no matter how long the road you've been traveling, you can always turn around.

1698 Reads
  • Posted by rhonda_bcca
  • Jan 11, 2015
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A Lost Sheep and a Helpful Hand

A complete stranger I had met today during a Red Cross relief operation for the recent victims of Supertyphoon Haiyan was kind enough to walk with me for about 2 km from the headquarters to the train station. I was absolutely unfamiliar with the area, really bad at following directions, and very unaccustomed to (deathly afraid!) crossing streets filled with raging buses and jeepneys, especially in the Philippines! The moment I had left the headquarters, I felt like a lost sheep in a big city, but instead of having to deal with all of that, I had a god-sent friend, a Good Samaritan who willingly delayed his lunch hour just to make sure I got to my destination safely--a companion who offered not just the gift of a friendly conversation but also his unconditional friendship. And even more, I saved money instead of paying for a cab! We parted with good wishes and hopes for ... Read Full Story >>

2846 Reads
  • Posted by foxyballerina
  • Feb 14, 2015
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One Good Turn....

I was a grateful recipient of kindness today. We are about to take in a Guatemalan woman and her infant child for three weeks, until the infant is healthy enough to move.

I was on FreeCycle.org this morning searching for a bassinet and car seat. Then I spent the afternoon harvesting the generosity of others, who will in turn allow us to provide much needed housing to this woman and her infant.

1128 Reads

She found a transplant donor in Germany

A friend of mine was diagnosed with leukemia in her 60s. Her last hope was a marrow transplant. Luckily, they found one in Germany! This lady had signed up in the donor registry years before, but wasn't a match for the child and later the teenager in her region that needed a transplant. Years went by and out of the blue she got the news that she was a match for a woman in California (my friend). The transplant was performed, and my friend fully recovered. This year she went to Germany to thank the donor and found out that this lady had received the match request two days before her wedding! She said yes, and a few weeks later became a lifesaver while still a newlywed. Here they are together.

3904 Reads

A Chain of Gifts

I was on my way to teach my yoga class at a shelter one day, when I saw a homeless youth on the street. I felt an impulse to give all my one dollar bills. Shortly thereafter, I noticed another youth, also homeless. At that time all I could give was a smile and a connection.

When I reached the shelter there none who wanted to partake

in the yoga class.  However, I did bring with me some baked goods like donuts, cinnamon rolls etc, which I was able to give away. One the way back  to my car from the shelter, I noticed I had time left on my parking ticket. I also felts inspired to  give that away to a person I connected with a person on the street who needed it. 

All that little giving made me more aware of the abundance and the opportunity to connect and give. 

1166 Reads

Helping a Friend Heal Through the Holidays

A friend of mine is struggling with Lyme disease. I'm aware that because of it, my friend has a restrictive eating plan. To help heal her immune system, I came up with an idea for an advent calendar for her to enjoy - a new seasonal tea bag every day, plus a puzzle/doodle or idea/affirmation to do or share. And I enjoyed putting it together for her - it felt good to be doing something to support her recovery :)

1222 Reads
  • Posted by jmccorma
  • Dec 14, 2015
  • 11 Comments
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Unexpected Thank You Card

I feel like my cousin is my 'soulmate' because we seem to be so connected. She is always so supportive with her time, laughter and her love. She is always smiling joyfully and loves to laugh.

I sent her a thank you card last week just to let her know how much I appreciate her presence in my life.

1241 Reads
  • Posted by ritagnes
  • Dec 15, 2015
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Sharing Words You Yourself Most Needed to Hear

Today I Am grateful for the opportunity to help a friend in need. It's amazing how sometimes the advice you give is the same advice you need to hear. When that happens it's as if this friend is going through hard times for a purpose, and part of that purpose is to help you grow as a person. At the same time, perhaps the challenges you've faced and the lessons you've learned have lead you to this point and put you in a position to be of service, thus giving your own trails greater purpose. 

981 Reads
  • Posted by Timoteo
  • Dec 16, 2015
  • 6 Comments
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Warming up hearts with home made soup

 Made a big pot of homemade soup that filled the house with a wonderful aroma. It was cold here and good day for hot soup.  I have lots left for the coming week and will bring some over to my sweet 80-something next door neighbor tomorrow. Thanks to Waving for sharing the recipe for the split pea with yam soup.


1246 Reads

Smile -The universal sign of love

As I walk my dogs in the park to pray and meditate I regularly run into other people. Some are the faces of regular's; some have an occasional face; some I see for the 1st time.

I try in each case to do one or all of the following: make eye contact, smile, say an encouraging or positive word, and give a friendly wave of the hand. I find that doing some or all of this makes them at a minimum smile back. 
When I see them smile I know that I have touched a nerve of love inside of them, if only for a second. A smile is the universal sign of love. Therefore, I try my best to always make everyone I encounter smile as much as possible. I hope that this meme has made you too smile. Have a wonderful day! 

1010 Reads
  • Posted by maddog95603
  • Dec 17, 2015
  • 8 Comments
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My Feet Followed My Heart

Right before leaving for a gathering one night I saw a post in my email about someone in our community who is collecting funds to help the flood-displaced in South India ( A state of emergency in the state of Tamil Nadu). As I was walking to my friends' gathering this evening my feet started to take a detour, even though I was late. I walked in the opposite direction in order to deliver whatever money I had in my wallet to the person taking the donations. I am glad that my feet followed my heart! It was as if they knew what I wanted to do, even though my head was chiding me for being late :-)
I'm glad I didn't wait to do it.

1375 Reads

The Gift of Kindness

I think that the greatest compliment I could give or receive is to tell or be told by the other person that I am a kind. It is my intention as much as possible show kindness to people. 

I once read a book by Sylvia Borstein which began and ended with: "Since life is so difficult, how can we be anything but kind?" The truth of this statement really touched me and although I often fail I try to be as kind as possible to all whose paths I cross each day. I know how much a beautiful smile can make my day, and hope I can give that gift to others.

May anyone who reads this be happy and filled with peace and I sent you all a big smile of appreciation.

1176 Reads

A cup of coffee and kindness to keep illness at bay

One morning while enjoying breakfast in my favorite restaurant two women came in and sat in the booth behind me. I overheard them talking about just leaving the pharmacy.

One of them went on to say how bad she was feeling and she didn't know when she was going to be feeling any better since there was no way she could get her prescription filled because she didn't have the money. 

I listened to them try to think of someway they could get the money. As I listened I learned the medicine cost $29. I called the waitress over and asked her to give the women $35 anonymously. Enough for the medicine and their coffee.

1500 Reads

Warm Heart Warm Hands for the Winter

With the winter weather kicking in the homeless are having a tough time. I see them every day sitting on cardboard with a sleeping bag and or dog to keep them warm. Usually, I buy them a hot drink or hot food, hoping that will help warm them. 

This year I prepared some small packages as well. Each has a pair of gloves, because I see many with bare hands in such cold weather. I also included the small hand warmers you get in the 99 cent stores. Then I add snacks, hygiene products and for those with a dog, some dried dog food.

1647 Reads

The change inside that brings joy!

Today I was in a generous mood. I handed over a  good sum of money to the some people who are in great need. Its very difficult for me to part with cash. I experience a lot of fear and insecure feeling. I believe I do not have enough for myself. I reached deep within myself to give out the amount.

I could hear my heart beat and fear rising.  But when I looked up to give and saw the joy on the peoples faces it wiped my insecure feeling. I FELT SO PROUD of myself. I patted myself on the back and called myself a brave girl. 

 

1671 Reads
  • Posted by shardagandhi2002
  • Dec 29, 2015
  • 9 Comments
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Common' Give Me A Smile!

Today a colleague admitted he has an operation coming up and is feeling apprehensive. I didn't have much in my treats drawer at work (I'd just given all the smiley stickers to our cleaner) but I wrapped up a few things I thought would make him smile. I got a nice laugh from him :-)

1072 Reads

Anonynous Stationary Store Kindness


Its the countdown to back to school here. I was in my favorite stationery shop yesterday and saw all the books and supplies set out ready for the new school year. I decided to purchase a gift card along with my own purchases. I quickly wrote a note on the back of the card and asked the cashier to pass it along to a family who she thought were struggling to pay for their stationery, or to a family with multiple children to buy stationery for. A little thought popped into my head "what if the cashier doesn't use it for this?" Then courage in my spirit took over, and I thought The Universe will guide her, and I let it go.  
 
 

1219 Reads

A Hot Mug of Tea and a Warm Heart

I walk my goats daily, basically just following them about to make sure they don't eat any of the young trees or break into the farm. At this time of year, it can be cold and damp. For the last couple of days, after about 40 minutes, when my fingers are freezing, my husband has shown up with a nice hot mug of tea for me. He then hangs around to chat until it's time to take them in. Little gestures are as special as big ones. 

1435 Reads

Amidst hurt kindness shone through

While I feel so saddened by the world and the mean-spirited people my husband and my son especially have had to deal with this week, I still believe in being kind to everyone. The little kindness I did for the elderly lady at the grocery store, and the assistance I gave someone else at the local yarn store, are moments that make my days better. Making cookies for a neighbor who got laid off was a small gesture that made him smile. 

Sometimes I would prefer to give back the meanness I get from some people, but have learned that just makes it worse. The hard part is not lashing out at those who hurt my family. That has happened too often this week to my son in particular.

Nothing to be gain by striking back, but still it saddens my heart and life at time can be wear your spirit down.

Tomorrow is another day. And another chance to make some one smile

1382 Reads

'Adopting' the Elderly Over the Holidays

Oh, I sincerely hope I am not repeating myself! If I am, please forgive me. But I share this in case any one would like to do it next year---and I truly recommend making the effort. Before Christmas I found a charity that was looking for workers to check on the elderly. I am not looking for a job, so I wrote instead and asked if I could send gifts to 15 or so people of their choosing, and a host of Christmas cards to more elderly shut-ins. I said I'd send the gifts to them so they could vet it, along with wrapping paper and ribbons, to please wrap up once they saw the gift was nice and A-ok. Thankfully they agreed. The same with the cards, I left them unsealed so they could read the message and be certain it was all on the up and up. Really getting into ... Read Full Story >>

1182 Reads

A Position She Paid Forward

Several years ago, this lady named Lisa and I started working at a bank at the same time. We went through training together and were given part-time positions. Eventually one full-time position opened up.

We both really needed the extra income and benefits - my husband had just gotten laid off; I think she was going through a divorce but I can't remember her exact circumstances.

But when she was offered the full-time position, she told the manager that they should offer it to me first and she'd take it only if I declined. Then she told me to take it. 

I have since lost contact with her but that was one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me. I hadn't thought about it in years but this morning I woke up and thought of her. I hope someone else was able to show her the kindness she showed me.

1634 Reads

Strawberry sweetness on a cold winter day

We had to run out to buy more food for the feral cats who frequent our "restaurant"..we are in the midst of a cold snap with increasing bitter temperatures & high winds & they need to eat more frequently to stay warm.

The Universe was so kind, we were able to get a break on the cost per bag...a $3 savings per bag! Awesome.

We used some of the savings to buy a basket of strawberries for our 90 year old friend who had shared with me yesterday that she loved strawberries but couldn't see spending $7 a basket (the off-season price we are being charged here now).

Knowing she'd insist on paying us (she's very proud), we dropped them off with her son (she lives w/him) , told him we didn't want any payment & to tell her he paid us for them. Lol. When she called us later to thank us & asked us how much they cost, I told a "white lie" & said $3. She said she was going to give her son the money he laid out....I was chuckling as we said our good-byes 🍓

1264 Reads

My gift to an old friend


Tonight I am going to finally start on a project I have been procrastinating on for a while. A few years back, I lived in Japan for two years. I made a lot of friends there, including a sweet old man who worked in the office I did paperwork in on Friday afternoons. He really welcomed me into the community. His hobby was drawing and painting, and he was very talented at it.
I bought this book which is filled with suggestions of interesting things to draw (followed by the appropriate space to draw them) but they are in English, and he can't read them, so I am going to translate the whole book into Japanese. I hope he likes it and still has fond memories of me. It has been too long since last communicating with him. 
 

798 Reads

The Perfect Circle of Give and Receive

I learned a valuable lesson a couple years ago. I met Denise, who was totally paralyzed. She could not speak, and the only movement she could make was to nod or move her head from left to right very slightly. She had very advanced progressive MS. I visited her often and soon learned that in my time with her, I wanted to help her connect with the outer world as much as possible. It would seem that she was the receiver of what I had to give.

 Maybe so, yet it came to me that she, too, would want to escape her immobilized world as much as possible and give also. Then it further dawned on me that she was already giving by receiving what I had to give.  By her receiving, she was giving me the gift of providing me the opportunity to give. I told her that receivers are as necessary and worthy as the givers. If there were no receivers, there could be no givers. Her role in the chain of giving and receiving was vitally important. She couldn’t move, but her eyes could shine. She gave me a great gift when they shined back at me at that time.


1270 Reads

Because after all she's part of the team

My 9-year old daughter participates on a cheer leading team. Last weekend they had their pictures taken by a professional photographer and had the option of purchasing group photos and/or individual photos.

One of the girls on the team is unable to afford purchasing photos. So, without her or her family knowing, I purchased an extra team photo that will be just for her. I know she would really enjoy having a keepsake from her time on the cheer leading team. I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees that she will be getting a team photo on the day when everyone else receives their own photo orders.

844 Reads

Cookies, anyone?

"How can you stand that display of Girl Scout cookies facing you all day?" I asked the cashier, motioning to the table of temptation a few feet away.

"Oh, that's why I have my back to them!" she laughed, as she rang up our purchases.

"What's your favorite?"

"Mmmm...probably the shortbread cookies," cashier sighed.

With that I gifted the cashier a box of her favorites along with a SMILE card!!!

Got a few extra boxes of cookies as well....I wonder where they will be gifted? :)))

1060 Reads

Kindness Insisted With a Smile

Recently I was helped by some men on duty (guards and cops) when my car broke down. A week later I wanted to thank them and bought some coffee. They refused and said the macho stuff like "It was my job" etc. But I insisted and they accepted :). And I could see big smiles emerge and left them to it. It felt great!

661 Reads
  • Posted by varindergill15
  • Apr 26, 2016
  • 9 Comments
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Quilted With Unconditional Kindness

I received a quilt in the mail today from an local organization that makes homemade quilts for people living with cancer. Someone requested it on my behalf, because I would never have thought to ask for myself. I cannot begin to tell you how beautiful it is, and how touched and grateful I am for this act of unconditional kindness and generosity.

It inspires me, and I hope it will inspire you too.
The individual makers stay anonymous, and ask for nothing back.  You can, if you wish, thank the charity on its web site, and donate.  Their quilts are just beautiful, and light, and come with their own carrying case. 

I have received many kindnesses in the course of my illness, but this one really stands out for me, because it is so unconditional, and symbolizes warmth and comfort in such a concrete way. 

981 Reads