Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Helping a Neighbor Down on his Luck


--by MakeSomeoneSmile, posted Apr 7, 2007

We had a community garage sale this weekend. Early that morning a man who was staying down the street with his mother stopped by. He is a cabinet maker but there has not been much work for him lately. He has been doing lawn jobs and clean up to make extra money to keep going. He stopped by to ask us if we had any lawn equipment for sale. We didn't but upon hearing his struggles I pulled an extra yard blower/vac out of our cabinet and gave it to him. When he asked how much it was, I just told him he could have it and wished him the best of luck.

2 hours later he came back. He had gone home and tried it out and was happy that it worked great for him! He thanked us again and asked if he could clean up our yard to show his appreciation. We said no that was not necessary but he insisted he wanted to do something to thank us. Hesitantly we let him clean up some leaves. He smiled and was very happy as he did, bagged everything up and then went on his way.

It is never easy when things are tough. I don't know anyone who would have come back and did what he did.  And I felt great knowing that it really mattered to him. I wish him the best of luck and was glad to make a difference for him for at least one day.

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Readers Comments

afriendlysmile wrote: Hi MakeSomeoneSmile
That was a really nice gesture you did for your neighbour, it will certainly
go towards creating a good community spirit.

Afriendlysmile :)
lukeyluke wrote: That was a very kind act shown. Keep it up.
Ginny wrote: Thanks for shareing that. Like I always say little or big thing can make that persons day.
lovebug wrote: I have come to a time in my life were I see so much giving and kindness, maybe we need to be taught to receive
Rats wrote: Dear friend,
There are many people on our way in life who just would take that extra step to thank us for what we have done to them. it is indeed a great feeling to be with people like them isn't it.
let's do our best to all around us.
Jeniffer wrote: Its nice to see that your kindness made your neighbor want to pass it on. I bet every time he uses that he will think of the nice thing you did for him and it will make him smile!!
Joe Lewis wrote: That was a really nice thing to do. It really makes you about other people... and there is always someone worse off than you. Again, that was a really nice thing to do. Take care.
Thata wrote: Helping people in need is helping ourselves to happiness. The soft light of kindness shines on all.

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