Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Second Chance To Help


--by bob.gelinas, posted Dec 13, 2010

Yesterday I was returning from Boston by bus. My wife was planning to leave work to pick me up from the the bus station. I called her to say not to bother, I would just take the local transit bus to her.

This was the first time I had ever ridden the local bus system. While I was sitting on the bus a young woman with a dog got on. She was carrying several bags of heavy books. I noticed the dog was an emergency dog, one that is trained to warn the owner of a possible seizure.

I heard the young women mention to someone else that she still had two miles to walk with the heavy books after she got off the bus. I thought maybe I should ask if she wanted a ride but I wasn't sure which stop she was getting off at so I hesitated and  didn't ask.

The bus dropped me off at the stop where my wife was waiting. As we were driving home, all of a sudden I saw the same young lady with her dog. The bags were by the side of the road.

I asked my wife to pull over and I asked the young lady if she would like a ride. I explained to her that I had overheard her on the bus. She said she would love a ride but she was concerned about the dog who was quite big and a little on the feeble side.  

I asked if the dog could get in the car. He tried to do it by himself but in the end I had to lift him in. By the way, the dog's name was Sam!

The young lady got in and I looked back. There was Sam, sitting very proudly in the back seat with his owner. It was quite a sight!  

We took them both home and the lady was very appreciative.

When reflecting on this experience I was a little sad that I did not act the first time on the bus. But I was very happy to have had the second chance to do what I should have done the first time.  

 

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Readers Comments

dreamer22 wrote: You're super awesome! I know she appreciated not having to walk with heavy books!
unknown wrote: Looks like you felt like helping her quite a bit and you were given an opportunity. Smiles together :):) agreed, help when the opportunity strikes :)
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Good for you for taking advantage of the second chance for kindness. I'm sure it mattered far more than you even know! :)
iferlamb wrote: Very nice of you! Yes, it is so wonderful you got a second change.
smiles...
PaddyD wrote: you know it is worth mentioning the opposite feeling of the helping high. There is that low feeling when you pass an opportunity to help someone. I have found myself rushing many times and see someone in need and I have to say I have passed the opportunity and afterwards felt bad about it. Sometimes it is due to an unsure feeling as to how the offer might be received but sometimes it is just being so busy and that is wrong.
You did so well to have the second chance and take it and I hope you learned the lesson to take the chance when you get it that I have learned by my mistakes.
Bluebellgirl wrote: yyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaayyyyy 4 uuuuuuuuuuuu :D
givelove wrote: What a good lesson that is. Thanks for sharing this story! It is hard sometime to follow that kindness impulse, but I am glad you did! This is a simple, yet inspiring story!

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