Stories of Kindness from Around the World

A Helping Hand, And Sore Shins!


--by wayfarer, posted Sep 20, 2008

Two years ago we took the kids to see a pantomime (Christmas show) at a local theatre. It's only a little place and the balconies are piled high on top of each other so that you are practically hanging over the stage. Great fun!

Anyway, there is an elevator but it stops short of the highest two balconies and the stairs are tight and steep. Once the show was over we all headed out. Of course everyone else was also trying to get out so it was really crowded. At the top of the stairs stood a mother with a teenage boy in a wheelchair. She seemed upset, insisting the theatre staff had assured her they would have someone there to help her and her son down to the elevator level.

I offered to help and picked her son up in my arms while she followed with the folded down wheelchair. All the way along I kept up a conversation with the lad despite not understanding a word he said. I just wanted to come across as someone he didn't need to be scared of. Someone who wouldn't drop him.

The poor lad didn't have control of his limbs and kicked me all the way down the narrow, crowded stairs. Once we got them safely to the elevator level we left them to it and my wife said, "I knew you would do that."

I know she meant it as a compliment, but part of me was irrationally annoyed, not with her but with the world. Why was what I had done "special"?

He was a human being -  I am a human being. He was stuck in a body that didn't work - it could so easily have been me. His mother was worried and upset - would any of us want others to walk past our mothers in a similar position?

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Readers Comments

dewolfe wrote: This is true. It can sometimes be fustrating at the lack of compassion and understanding people have. Some can be so closed off and so it changes what should be a common courtesy into a great act of compassion, what should be a normal human into a martyr or saint. These should be things anyone would be willing to do, they should not be a special, rare occasion. Congrats for thiking that way!It is a wonderful way to live.
brighteyes wrote: Wayfarer I totally agree....and a visualize a future in each caring and sharing and kindness and tolerance and peace are just a part of life- every day life...let's all meditate on making this into reality! ;)
lOVEBUG wrote: From you I would expect nothing less. I would like to make a comment to dewolfe, I have to agree, what should be a common courtesy, is now conceived as being a martyr or a saint. I often ask myself. How is it we have fallen so far? God Bless
JuneBug wrote: This is just like you, wayfarer..I have said it before....You are truely awesome! :}
AURELIA wrote: I am so happy you noticed him and that God has given you the strength in both character and muscles to make a difference. Thanks for sharing! :0) Aurelia
lmil1954 wrote: Wayfarer what sets you apart from the "rest" is that you are, simply put, blessed!!!
Thanks for taking all those blessings and sharing them with others. You do it because you are blessed and you are blessed because you do it.
How wonderful. Linda:)
MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: That is great that you chose to make a difference. I'm sure some others may have thought about it but you took action. I agree with brighteyes that the more we all do things like this, the more it will spread! Thanks for caring!

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