Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The Biggest, Bestest Present Ever!


--by anwahs, posted Dec 26, 2007

There is an elderly man who lives up the street from us.  He has no one to shovel his driveway.  He is a bit of a miser so most people aren't so inclined to help.  One day, I don't know who did it, but someone used the sticky snow on his driveway to make a whole bunch of snowmen on his lawn facing his front window.  They were all smiling and waving and his driveway got cleared in the making of them.

As my son and I were walking by, I could hear him grumbling under his breath.  "What's the problem?" I asked him.  He complained that someone had trespassed on his lawn and made a bunch of snowmen.  My son, not knowing what trespass meant, assumed this was a good thing.  He said "Wow, sir, that's the biggest bestest present I've ever seen!!"   Innocently, he then turned to me asked, "Could we have someone "trespass" on our lawn too?"

I couldn't help but smile, and neither could the old man.  The next day there was a Christmas card from him outside our front door, along with a plush snowman for my son.

One act of kindness can change a lifetime of miserlyness and if I ever find out who made the snowmen on his lawn, I will be sure to send them something in return.  They gave my son, myself and our neighbor "the biggest, bestest present ever!"

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Readers Comments

JuneBug wrote: Awwww! That's quite a story! Every grumpy person has a soft heart that they sheild for whatever reason..Your son melted his... :}
brighteyes wrote: Kind words and an open heart can heal even the grumpiest of hearts....great you and your son happened by to spread the smiles.
makesomeonesmile wrote: What a great story! I believe there is a kind person in everyone. Your son helped bring out the one in that old man. We can learn from people of all ages, young and old, as your story reminds us. Every kindness matters. Thanks for sharing your story and for spreading kindness!
yogionthego wrote: INSTANT TEARS!! My oh my I love this site - and that story was priceless!! If only all of us could be like children - it seems we develop a filter for our thoughts and don't just say what immediately comes to mind (in some cases a good thing)... but in this one - wow!! :) I feel the need to build a snowman today!1 :)
clemsongirl000 wrote: Wow- what a great story you have shared with all of us. It's so suprising how children can bring out the best in us, even if we aren't prepared to do so! In this case, you son found happiness in a man who was overwhelmed with humbleness. Great story!
lOVEBUG wrote: I was raised in a time when children were seen and not heard and I can't see where we have changed our way of thinking very much. Although my children are grown, I have friends with children and that is all I ever hear, stop talking, so I have started seperating the child from the parent and take a walk with them so I can hear what they have to say, it is the innocence of a childs mind I find so fascinating, it is amazing what they observe.
lmil1954 wrote: WOW that is truly amazing, so sweet, so tender, thank you so much for sharing it. God Bless you and your son AND your new friend:)
ecochic wrote: The innocence of your child just changed a grumpy old mans life forever! Fantastic!

Im sooooo glad for everyone involved and thanx to the person who built the snowmen! Thanx to you for sharing your story!
lhatton wrote: Awwwwww. That was the exact pick me up that I needed this morning. Thank you so much for sharing that story. It was wonderful.
EKBLOM wrote: What a wonderful story! I know some people who could use some snowmen, i'm using this idea!

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