Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Gracious Gesture on an Incredibly Special Day


--by kjoberk, posted Jun 3, 2010

About a year ago, my husband had just come back from a 7 month tour in Iraq. My daughter and I had gone up to see him get off the bus at 6am, and he didn't get there until about 7-7:30am.  

After a couple hours of work he had to do, we were ready to go home.  On the way home, my husband suggested that we go to International House of Pancakes (IHoP) to grab something to eat. We didn't have that much money left, as it was right before payday, but I decided it would be worth it anyway, since he hadn't gotten to eat anything like that for months.

We went in and sat down in a crowded resturant. He was still wearing his ACU's (his army clothes) and I was clinging to him and still crying a little bit, just so happy to have him home. We sat there and ate a wonderful meal, all of us just enjoying each other's company.

When it got time for us to get ready to leave, we asked our server for our check. He informed us that it had already been taken care of. 

I just looked at my husband, astonished, and started crying even more. I tried to figure out who it was, and there were a couple people who had just left prior to us asking for our check.

It made my heart just swell up to think that someone could be that gracious to pay for our meal and I was so incredibly happy to know that they did it on such a special day. I have no idea if they knew my husband had just come home from the war, but it made my day better than it already was.

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Readers Comments

Rocking wrote: Thank you for sharing your very moving family story. You make me want to get out there and do more random acts of kindness in the kindness revolution
Zevelina wrote: Nice to hear how someone who got a random act of kindness gift felt. I`m glad :)
sony wrote: Wow! Awesome that touch my inside
sydskies wrote: Thats great. Really is. I want to thank your husband and you and your children for supporting him to do a wonderful thing for our country. You deserve that special day and special thanks. I wish you the best
Kansaskid609 wrote: This just warms my heart!
turner wrote: What a great idea, to pay for someone's meal anonymously. I think i'm going to do that as a nice gesture, and have the waitress deliver a smile card instead of a check!
Inal wrote: Lovely! What better celebration of your husband's dedication and sacrifice to be so honored by a complete and anonymous stranger! Yes, indeed there are good people out there :)


A hug to you all!
Mandii_79 wrote: That is just wonderful to hear, i have no other words
papaed wrote: A wonderful story. Needs so often get met when we just trust and do what's right for ourselves and for others. It was bold and perceptive of someone. We all need to keep looking for such opportunities.
Mike Cowan wrote: Made me feel great reading that. Nice to hear it when someone just does something nice for someone. Pay it forward, that always feels great too. Glad he's home!

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