Stories of Kindness from Around the World

On Saturday I witnessed a wonderful thing. We had taken an older couple into town and after they had done what they needed to do they asked if we could stop at McDonalds to get something to eat. It was no problem and we suggested they could eat it in the restaurant rather than in the car or taking it home.  

While we were there, we noticed a group of four boys aged 10-12, having lunch.  The boys stood well back from the counter and allowed other customers to go ahead and order while the boys discussed what they wanted. When they decided, they went to the counter to order telling the young girl serving they wanted the larger size, which they would share. The woman with them queried this and they told her it would be cheaper to do it that way rather than get individual orders.

These boys were not rowdy but laughing and joking and generally having fun.  When they got their order, they took the tray to the table, sat down and must have realised it was too much or more than they had ordered so they went back to the counter. They told the young lady serving that there was more than they had paid for and they wanted to know how much extra they owed.  She replied “There is no extra charge. It was a pleasure to serve polite considerate young people. It is compliments of the management. We hope you enjoy your meal.” The boys thanked her and with huge grins in their faces they tucked into their meal.

I spoke later to the woman with the boys as we know her from the supermarket where we shop. I said I didn’t realize she had children and congratulated her on their politeness and good behavior.  She laughed telling us they were not hers but these were from two families who lived either side of her home so she decided to give them a treat because they always said “hello” to her and when she had the flu a couple of weeks earlier the boys took her dogs for their daily walk.  She said she was going to get them a soft cone when they finished the meal and it was an extra after what they did when they ordered.

As we chatted this lovely couple with us excused themselves and went to the counter.  After we left we asked what treat they had bought.  Imagine our surprise when they said they had used money off of a gift card to treat each boy to a soft cone and thick shake. They asked the girl at the counter not to do anything until we left and that the boys be allowed to choose what flavor they wanted.

This couple are on a pension so have limited funds and do not have many luxuries in life so to give this away was wonderful.  

I feel really blessed. To see a group of young boys having some innocent fun and who helped their neighbour when she was sick; a neighbor showing she appreciated the kindness shown to her and her pets by a group of young boys. And of course I also appreciated this wonderful couple who gave away some of a gift they had received. I smiled then and I am still smiling now.