Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Lo(o)se Change


--by guin, posted Aug 14, 2007

Last week, I was out at the beach with my friend and her sister.

We had a great time wading right into the ocean, going on the merry-go-rounds, shooting water balloons and eating popcorn and cotton candy.   It was like being back in one of our high school carnivals!

That was when I saw two little boys in grubby shirts. They didn't have shoes on and their hair looked totally dishevelled.  Most likely they were popcorn of candy vendors, but one can't be sure.

I saw them emptying their pockets, looking at some food stalls, starting to count the spare change in their pockets.

Something about this scene really went straight to my heart.  Just across the beach is this really big mall where people spend thousands of rupees buying branded goods.  Man, the inequality in the world is enormous.

I didn't want to offend the small boys by handing them money.  So I walked near them and just dropped a five ruppee coin into the sand, and walked away casually.

After a couple of minutes I saw them find the shiny coin and they seemed real happy to buy a bag of roasted peanuts to eat.

It takes so little to make children happy.

3819 Reads

Readers Comments

Rajni wrote: I appreciate your way of giving, anonymously.
thaata wrote: In some circumstances giving money insults the receiver. Children may be bought ice creams, sodas, candies and other eatables and offered with love and kindness. Or pay the vendor and ask him to deliver the items. The heart to give is what is requried.
kaye8 wrote: Dropping the coin was great. What i have done is first quietly asked if the person would like something to eat, and if they said no for whatever reason, i then said i would like to give them something, and i'd take their hand and as surreptitiously as possible, place a previously folded big bill (i. e . $20. ) in their palm, looking them in the eyes and saying thank you. For me, i believe people need to be touched and acknowledged, and few of us, even those of us with enough, are touched and acknowledged. Blessings all. And smile.
Nickgrand wrote: That was very nice of you!
Nickgrand wrote: Wow What a great Story Thanks for sharing!
xamphia wrote: Really touching.
smoothsugardoll wrote: God bless you for being so giving yet humble.
akbj wrote: What a great idea. Now I want to do that too. I would have never thought of that, how tastefully handled. Blessings on you
irongrace wrote: THANKYOU for secetly feeding someone who was hungry
kcsweetpea wrote: what diffence you made for them that day... thanks for sharing your kindness.

Add A Comment