A Lesson in Compassion From My Brother

--by advaitin, posted Nov 20, 2010

It was my birthday so my wife, my brother and my child treated ourselves to dinner in a restaurant that we had never been to before. As we walked back to our car a very thin man approached my brother saying he hadn't eaten in a while and asking for money. Usually my wife and I treat such requests with suspicion but my brother took a different approach and he started talking with the man.

The man said he was a singer and had come to Dubai from Pakistan to find work. His visa was expiring in three or four days. He had no friends here, couldn't land a singing job, and was surviving hand to mouth. He had a return ticket that had to be confirmed. To do this he needed 70 Dirhams.

My brother gave him 20 Dirhams for food and asked the man to give him a call from the airline's ticket office the next day. He also gave the man a travel card for the Dubai metro.

Later, I found out that my brother went to the ticket office the next day and had this man's ticket confirmed. There were some extra fees, plus the man had 300 Dirhams room rent to be paid. Having done all that my brother then helped the man get some chocolates and gifts to take back home to his family.

The man was so touched. He kept in touch and even called my brother from Pakistan later, thanking him for all his help.

Well, it was a valuable lesson in human kindness that I learnt from my younger brother on my birthday!

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Posted by advaitin
Nov 20, 2010
Comments (11)

Readers Comments

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Bless your brother for his wonderful kindness and to you for sharing it for us all to enjoy! :)

givelove wrote: How wonderful! Your brother really went above and beyond and you can be sure that singer will never forget the kindness of a stranger.

Bluebell wrote: I think it is always beautiful when we see people as they are rather than tagged with a lable either saying where they are from or what they believe. This is the perfect example of kindness from one person to another. I can see the ripples of this kindness far beyond the people involved. Thousand Blessing for all those touched by this beautiful act of kindness. Love and light and a Thousand Smiles, Bluebell

madhur wrote: Great to hear this. Your brother did all one could think of to make this person happy and comfortable. What a b'ful gift.

sethi wrote: Thank you for sharing , this great story of compassion.

Tammy wrote: Your brother is blessed and has peace and love in his heart. Happy birthday and a wonderful life to all. Much love and joy to the entire family.

ccsbouvier wrote: That was god working through you, like the time at a stop light a siek(holyman)asked for a rhide across town so he wouldn't be late, these are the principals this country was built on. Thanks for being "human" and responding from the "heart".

felicia wrote: Wow, i'd be proud to have a brother like that. So glad you shared your story. What a wonderfully kind thing to do for someone so down on their luck. I am now inspired to help others in a more thoughtful way.

Debra wrote: Thanks for sharing that beautiful story of your brother's kindness. It brought me tears how he really went out of his way to help.

GOPALA N IYER wrote: Your brother is indeed a gem of a person. You can certainly feel proud of him. Your parents too can truly cherish this act of great kindess towards absolutely a stranger cutting across the national/internatioonal borders.

Family too is great in having such a fine

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