Random Acts of Kindness
Below are two articles that came across my desk today. Both show the value of giving a simple act of kindness. We never know how far-reaching our acts of kindness may be or for whom we might be doing such an act. Never underestimate the value of an act of kindness. It may one day come back to you multiplied many times over. Enjoy. —Charles David Heineke
A Simple Glass of Milk
Reprinted from Kind Times, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation’s monthly ezine, Sept. 2007. Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
One day, a very poor boy working as a door-to-door salesman in order to pay his university tuition, was very upset when he realized he only had a dime left and he was very hungry.
He decided to muster up the courage to ask for some food from a neighbor, but he became very nervous when an elegant lady opened the door. So, instead of food, he asked for a glass of water.
She instinctively knew the boy was in need, so she brought a glass of milk. He drank it very slowly and then asked, “How much is that?”
“You owe me nothing,” replied the lady and added “My mother taught me never to accept anything in return but an act of kindness.”
“Then, I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart,” he said. When the young boy left that home, he felt better and his faith in God and the human race grew stronger.
Years later, that kind lady got very sick and doctors did not know exactly what was wrong with her, so they sent her to a hospital where, oddly enough, that young boy had become a doctor and was put on the case. When he heard the name of the town she came from, his eyes lit up as he realized who his patient might be.
He went to see her and recognized the woman immediately. At once, he started to put immense amounts of effort into the case, attempting to save her life.
After a long fight, she won the battle and recovered.
The doctor asked the administration office to send him the bill for approval. He revised and signed it. He wrote a note on the upper part of the invoice and sent it back to the patient. She knew that it might take her the rest of her life to pay the medical bills. Excited to be healthy yet worried about the cost, she opened up the envelope and was surprised to see a written note: “The bill was paid some years ago with a glass of milk.” Howard - MD.
Tears of happiness rolled down her face as she thanked God and the young doctor for his return act of kindness.
- Francisco
A Lesson from a Random Act of Kindness
Source: Anonymous Acts of Kindness Website
Upon one of our weekly visits to feed the homeless, my friend and I ventured to Seattle to deliver 50 burritos and waters. On our mission, we saw a bus stop with several people, on 3rd Ave. In particular, a man was sprawled out on the sidewalk right by the street. In danger of being injured, his head was less than a foot from the street itself where cars zoom by. We approached him carrying water and burritos we had made earlier that night. First we helped sit him upright on the bus stop bench. He thanked us for the water and food we gave him. Then, he proceeded to tell us about his travels and hardships in life. As we stood there listening to him speak, he paused, then looked us both straight in the eye and told us something quite profound. In a firm crystal clear voice he said, “The only thing real before you die is what you give.” As my friend and I finished talking to this man, he leaned over and hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Thank you for loving me.” We parted, with him giving us a gift.
Have you been “Somebody’s Angel” today?
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