Happy Birthday And A Gold Coin

--by Rice, posted Jul 5, 2007

While eating lunch with my 4 year old daughter this afternoon at a fast food restaurant, i noticed an old man walking to the table with a cane. The manager kindly carried his food for him.

During the meal I overheard the man tell a woman it was his birthday. So I whispered what I heard to my daughter. She loves when people have birthdays. I told her it was ok for her to wish him a happy birthday. He obviously was spending this special day alone.

At first she was shy and decided against it. No problem. As I was emptying our tray into the trash she turned to him and quietly wished him a Happy Birthday. I could tell he was touched by the way he looked at her. I came up behind her and gave him my own wishes. He was grateful.

As we walked away he called my daughter back and handed her a brand new gold $1 coin. She thanked him...that wasn't enough for him. He dug into his pocket and at that I kindly told him that wasn't neccessary. He ignored me and pulled out an envelope with about a dozen of a different kind of gold coin. He proceeded to hand her another one and tell her how special it was and that one day it will be worth something. He then looked me in the eye and wished me a good day.

What a kind man. I'm sure my daughter made his day. If not his year....and who was I to take away his glory and turn away his offering of thanks.

Happy Birthday!

4398 Reads

Posted by Rice
Jul 5, 2007
Comments (19)

Readers Comments

cool wrote: I love this story

bob wrote: Hi

tcsgirl wrote: Touching story. I love how you didn't refuse the gentleman's gift. Not for the potential value of his tangible gift, but because of the priceless and intangible value of the "joy of giving" that you allowed him to experience.

ladygaga wrote: Wow, thats just amazing

sethi wrote: A great act of kindness. Thank for sharing with us your experience.

kaviraj wrote:

Hello! Rice,

Thanks a lot for sharing this event. There were many persons in the restaurant but your perception compelled you to ask your daughter to wish him “happy birth day”. The good wishes on the birth day gave the person great contentment. The joy the person got after listening good wishes prompted him to give a gold coin to your daughter.

On the other hand you are training your daughter to learn how to respect elderly persons.

May god keep your this perception and spirit of service.

Have anice day --jagdish kaviraj

MJ wrote: Wow how excellent, a true blessing!

hizzay wrote: thats a very kind-hearted man!
im sure that really made his birthday =)

Vanilla wrote: Our kids learn from us everyday, it's up to us to set a good example for them. Youre doing an excellent job teaching your daughter how to be kind.Kindness is a wonderful thing!

lovebug wrote: I was given a coin 30yrs a go. I kept that coin, not knowing why.But when my grandson recently went to the war in Iraq, I passed it forward to him. So far he has been safe, part of me believes it is because I kept the blessing given to me in the form of a coin , I do pray that this blessing of life will be pasted forward to my grandson and all of those who are called to war on both sides. Keep up the good work, we are never to young to learn kindness, but someone has to teach it, in this case it was you. Thanks for sharing.

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