Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Running On Empty


--by jacqueline, posted Dec 30, 2007
The other night I almost ran my car out of petrol so I took the next exit off the highway to pull into the nearest petrol station.  I only had $20 cash on me. 

As I pulled in, hadn't even turned the car off, there was a young man walking towards the car next to me.  He spoke with the driver of the car and the driver shook her head "No" and then he approached my car.  Usually I would be cautious and let my "He looks shady and possibly a con" opinions control my actions - but not tonight.  I put aside my opinions and listened to him openly.  It turns out that he was traveling to a funeral, another 100kms away, and needed some money for petrol.

He was in a sort of a stunned silence, when I said, "Sure."  Then I added, "But there's one condition."   With a vibrant energy, he replied, “Anything, I will do anything.  I can pay you back if that’s what you want!” 

I said, “It is not your money or your time that I want.  I just want you to pay-it-forward”.   I gave him the only cash I had on me and a smile card.    As he read the card, he had the biggest smile on his face and was moved by my generosity.  He continued to thank me profusely and promised to pay-it-forward.

Whether I saved his day or I was conned by the young man… it doesn’t really matter to me, as long as I made a difference in his life by showing there are people in the world with genuine hearts filled with unconditional love.

As members of this website, that’s what WE are creating together.  Keep it up!  I love this website and I love you all!  Mwah!
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Readers Comments

thebigkind wrote: I love this story, thanks for sharing.
WENDY wrote: THE GIFT OF GIVING HAS THE GREATEST REWARD! Thanks for the uplifting story!
Penny wrote: Can we have more cards made off of the ones we got from you or how does it work?
yolanda wrote: Loved that story. Thanks so much for sharing it! I was so moved, I started to tear up.
pdaul wrote: What a wonderful act of kindness. "Give to another human being without the expectation of a return". I'm sure the man will pay it forward!
cabbage wrote: Thank you for sharing a wonderful, inspiring story. May we all have the courage to trust our hearts and do the right thing in a situation like that. Bless you! :-)
jojomcb wrote: Thank you for sharing this story. I know myself that I have been conned before but there is always that one time when you can help someone who is so truly grateful that makes up for all the times you have been conned by someone who is not so grateful. God bless you.
raqui wrote: I also agree that doing for others is really amazing and either way he was touched. :)
Bati wrote: Something similar happened to me in India. I climbed into a taxi and saw that the driver had been crying. Turns out his wife needed an operation and he didn't have the money. I gave him enough money for the operation and some gifts for his daughter. My friend said I was probably taken for a ride - seeing as he must have recognized me as an NRI (foreigner). I told her that there was a 50% chance she was right, but I could not have afforded to take that chance with someone's life. All I could see was the burden that lifted from his chest.
Diane wrote: I was walking out of Blockbuster, and there were two women walking ahead of me. One of them stopped and said"Look at the geese overhead in a V formation. How Beautiful!"..All I said was, Yes," Proof that God is up there looking down."..She turned and said"Oh yes, Thank you so much. I know that...Thank you. "It made my day...Avery simple story...but a happy one.......

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