Stories of Kindness from Around the World

On my way into the city of Orillia today, the sun was shining bright.  It was a very hot, gorgeous day.  For me, it wasn't a very easy morning, but everything was falling into place and I felt good.

Just then, I noticed some peculiar activity in a small graveyard just off the road. 

As I got closer, I noticed that an elderly man was attempting to pick something up.  With a car parked on the small laneway in the graveyard, he was crouching beside one of the gravestones.  Upon closer inspection, it was clear that he was sobbing.

After all that had gone on so far in my day, it was time to give something back.  I pulled into the small graveyard behind the lone car that was parked.  As I approached the fellow, I called out to ask if everything was ok.

I noticed then what the fellow was trying to accomplish.  One single gravestone in the cemetery had toppled off its foundation stone.  Although it wasn't very large, it was deceivingly heavy!

"My wife," was all that this fellow could muster through his tears.  My heart sunk at the realization that this was his wife's tombstone.  This elderly fellow was attempting to take on the task of righting the tombstone, but he wasn't going to be able to do it alone.

I asked him if I might be able to try to help him by fixing the tombstone.  He stopped crying and stepped aside, without saying anything.

I attempted, under my own strength, to right the stone, but  to no avail.  At only a few feet wide by 3 feet tall, even I wasn't strong enough to move the granite stone myself.

After some reassuring words to the fellow, I told him that I would be back with some more help.  I drove to a nearby coffee shop.  I looked around and asked another man if he could spare some time to help me with something.  To my surprise, my new friend "Alex" was eager to assist.  I explained to him the story and the location of the graveyard.

He told me that he was a contractor, that he had a few things that might help and that he would meet me there.

Back at the graveyard, about 20 minutes later, the same fellow was still standing at the gravestone.  No longer crying, but simply standing and staring.

"Alex the Contractor" and I both were able to restore the toppled gravestone with the help of some gloves and a strap that he had brought along in his truck.

"Grace Williams Nee Carter" I noticed on the gravestone.  I also noticed that she had not passed away very long ago -- in 2005.

I thanked Alex the contractor for his help and gave him a smile card.  Perhaps we will see his account of this story on the site someday soon.  I gave the older fellow a hug and apologized for his loss.

I continued on my way -- my day having gone from just-short-of-miserable, to graceful and accomplished.