My Mother's Simple Lesson in Kindness

--by Cecilia, posted Apr 8, 2011

It's easy to see how to help some people, but what about those whose needs are not so obvious? This story may have happened a while back - but it was a lesson which has stayed with me and helped me ever since.

It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a shelter for the needy. We stood behind the counter dishing out hot food to whoever came in. Most of our diners looked like they had been having hard times, their clothes were threadbare, they were dirty. In short, they looked needy!

Then, a man came in, who looked anything but needy. He was well groomed, he wore an expensive suit. I wondered what he was doing there and my jaw dropped in amazement when he joined the line for food. The closer he came to my service station the more I muttered. What was this man doing, I wanted to know? Surely he wasn't going to take food meant for those who were really in need!

Then my mother quietly took me to one side. She said, "You have assumed that the needs of the people who come here must be purely physical; hunger, inadequate shelter, clothing, etc. And this gentleman doesn't seem to have any of those problems. But what if his needs are emotional? What if he needs comfort, friends, or just to be amongst other human beings?"

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks! I felt like I should apologize to the man - but I didn't.

About a week later the shelter received a large donation from an anonymous source. I can't help but wonder if it came from that man?

Now, whenever I meet someone I remember my mother's lesson and try to send kindness and blessings their way, regardless of how they look.

Needs aren't always visible. But kindness always makes a difference.

8157 Reads

Posted by Cecilia
Apr 8, 2011
Comments (22)

Readers Comments

FairyBubbles wrote: You sure have a great mother.
(((HUG)))

madeusmile wrote: Wow...what a tremendous lesson...from a very wise mother. You were blessed to have such a great teacher.

unknown wrote: Your mother is wise and you are smart to take the tip from her ... This is a beautiful post you shared with us Cecilia :)

jab15 wrote: What a wise woman to realize that emotional hunger is not only the most empty and lonely feeling there is, but the most difficult need to get met.

jaikarkaur wrote: I am so touched. This story made me cry. It is so true that we never truely know the needs of others and we ofen assume wrongly what they need.

rainbowSmiles wrote: Your mother said something so profound in few simple sentences. We tend to think those who have less money or are handicap are most needy, however the greatest need of a human being is love and acceptance. That's what all of us need and is often so less in this world. If we can bring few moments of true happiness in someone's life by caring kindness, its worth a million for both the giver and receiver.

Smiles and love.

treeflower wrote: The man may have worn his best and only suit and groomed at a ymca or gas station bathroom-who knows? I have nice things that i wear from time to time from when our income was comfortable. Now that we don't have a good income i still like to wear nice clothes and the ocaisional piece of jewelry that i already have. We are low income now but i still have a few nice things from when i could afford them. It's easy to judge from someone's appearance and i do so from time to time as well-i think everyone does. But things aren't always as they seem. Thank you for sharing your story, you made us all think.

Tina wrote: What a great story and a wonderful reminder about judging people by appearances! Thanks for sharing it!

Ollie wrote: I guess it goes to show that we can 't judge a book by it 's cover. Thank you for sharing a valuable lesson to us all. God bless.

Sajha wrote: Thank you for sharing that story. Like my mother always said when she fed homeless men that would come to our door, "you might be helping angels unaware. "

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