Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Few days ago, I went to school with tons of books, hoping to get a locker. All of a sudden, it started raining heavily. I hurried to pay for my locker, but I was disappointed when they informed me that they only accepted cash. I was $7.00 short, which meant I had to carry the books back home. It would be an exhausting two-hour journey back home with all those books.

There was an elderly gentleman nearby. Noticing my predicament, he asked me how much cash I needed. When I told him I was $7 short, he quickly took out the money from his wallet. “You don’t have to pay me back,” he said. I was speechless; I didn’t know whether to take the money or come back with the books the next day. A young student who was working there noticed my hesitation. “He is really nice,” said the student, “I was starving this morning and he bought breakfast for me. He always helps people in different ways.”

When the gentleman had asked how much money I needed, I didn’t expect him to offer me the money because it was $7, not just a few cents. After thinking for a while, I took the money and opened my locker. I told him I would come back and pay him the money. “Whatever you think is right,” he answered. “I didn’t give you the money because I expect you to give it back.”

The next day, I went to him and thanked him for trusting me and lending me the money. He said he forgot about it and did not expect that I would give it back. “I am very happy,” he said, “not because I am getting my money back, but because this is the right way to go- whatever you get from this world, give it back as much as you possibly can. Spread kindness around the world with the smallest things you can do.”

Later, I found out that he was not involved with any charity organizations. He has been performing these types of acts for years. Earlier, someone had done something incredibly kind for him and he has been spreading the kindness ever since.

I desperately needed the locker that day but after meeting this man, I was much more grateful for meeting him than getting my locker. He taught me a very important lesson in life – we come to this world with nothing and we will leave with nothing. Whatever we own, it belonged to someone else and whatever we leave, it will become somebody else’s.

There are everyday heroes all around us who inspire kindness, hoping to change the world with their generosity and graciousness. They perform acts of unconditional kindness everyday without seeking any recognition. May god bless this gentleman and everyone else who continues to inspire change in our everyday lives.