Stories of Kindness from Around the World

There is a lovely Muslim woman around 30 years old who has migrated to the UK from a well-known conflict-torn country. She has 3 children, aged twelve, nine, and two and a half. I have been learning about her and hearing about some of her difficulties for about a year. In the UK we have what is called The Big Issue, a magazine the homeless sell on street corners to make legitimate money. Many of them cannot find regular jobs or are not able to work for lack of a homestead or certain papers. My friend, as she feels like one now, has multiple obstacles and no family help.

She "couch" surfs in a nearby big city where all the good Big Issue pitches are taken. Consequently she has to travel some ways to get to this small town on the seaside, and a lot of her wages is taken up with travel.

One day last week I found her looking especially tired; she had a bad cough and told me she felt ill. She was sitting in hot burning sun. I suggested she moved to a shadier spot if possible, as the sun can make an ill person with a bad headache feel worse. There's a spot in shade she also goes to by the Post Office, so I helped her move her stuff down there. Then, as I usually do when I see her, I asked if she had eaten. She said she had felt bad and someone said she could get energy from a chocolate candy.

It was midday and that's all she'd had since leaving home at 5:30 AM. I asked if she'd like the sandwich and juice, and a coffee, that I buy for her when I can, which is pretty often. She was glad to get something else, and the egg sandwich and orange juice, plus small coffee, seemed welcome. Later she told me it helped her feel less dizzy. Then we talked a bit. She wasn't fishing, just talking like a friend. She said in her country that day was Children's Day, and yet her own children would receive nothing, no celebration. She said she doesn't complain to them, that her spirit tells her not to complain, but they often ask, "If you work so hard, why can't we have anything the other kids have?" It weighs heavily on her.

As I went about my town chores, I came across a children's charity shop, and was inspired to buy the two and a half year old girl a selection of clothes that were fresh, as new-new and cute, as well as a stuffed toy and a Montessori game, all also brand-new. For the older boys I bought games of Snakes and Ladders and one based on a popular TV show, Dragon's Den. Also for them, I got new harmonicas and two sets of crayons and paper. When I presented it to my friend, I asked if the bag was too heavy to carry back or if the gifts seemed appropriate. For the first time ever she stood and hugged me.

A couple days later I asked her if the kids were at all okay with their presents. She said, "Oh, they said thank you, Mom, you've brought us so many good things. For us, it was a good Children's Day."

This gladdened me and we had another good chat while she ate a lunch I brought her. Please understand, I am under no illusions that I did anything especially useful. What she needs is a good lawyer, a place to live with her children, more healing time away from an abusive partner, and a job close to her hoped-for home. Nevertheless, though I am on disability and far from well-off, that little I can do, I want to do.