Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Little Acts Of Kindness





The Ice Cream Prayer


Author Unknown

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.

As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"




Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart." Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman.

With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."





Chain Of Love



Author Unknown


One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out.

His old Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.'

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.

The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be.

Then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'

I love reading such stories, and whenever, I come across some really good ones, I just love to share it with all of you here. 
Don't you feel like showing some kindness to others?
Do you have some experiences of kindness shown to you when you were really in need?
Or did you have the chance to help somebody, when they desperately needed help?
Please share it here.

20 comments:

  1. Both the stories directly crept to the heart,Rema.Do share such things please.Even I have experienced and shared also such conditions.Nice.

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    1. Thanks rudraprayaga, it is good to know you liked the stories

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  2. Two excellent stories. I wrote something similar about an experience I had. Here it is:

    http://sg-shootthebreeze.blogspot.com/2010/02/whodunit.html

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    1. Thanks SG. I visited your blog and read it. So good to experience such unexpected in life.

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  3. These stories remind me of reader's digest stories. Nothing brings greater joy than spreading smiles among strangers, the joy of giving without hoping for anything in return is something that has to be felt to realise its value. Thanks for sharing these heart-warming tales Rama :)

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    1. Thanks Reshma. Such stories really warms our hearts especially when Christmas is round the corner.

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  4. Thank you.They were touching stories that one never gets tired of reading many times for the lofty message it contained.

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    1. So true KP, even I never get tired of reading them.

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  5. BEautiful stories rama! i was raised with such thoughts. My dad would often say" dharmam thalai kaakkum". Such stories restore faith in humanity.

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    1. Yes the 'paying forward' is the best gesture. Thanks Asha.

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  6. Both very beautiful stories. I relived my childhood when we used to read such stories. These stories are always fresh. They appeal to the young and old alike.

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    1. You are so right Usha, these stories are the kind of stories that would appeal anybody any time. Thanks Usha.

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  7. Rama amma this is my first visit to your blog and I thank you for the heartwarming posts here. I have spent the past two hours reading through your posts, the ones about your parents, children and Cookie and other pets have all brought a faint tinge of sorrow and lots of happiness. Many thanks - mahesh

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  8. My first comment got swallowed up I believe :( my first visit to your beautiful blog here - thanks for so many heart-warming posts here. Regards - Mahesh

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    1. Welcome to my blogs. As you can see Mahesh, all your comments have come. Thank you very much for liking my blogs.
      Have a wonderful day!

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  9. Just discovered your blog... its a must-add to my weekly reading list :)

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  10. Thank you so much for these inspirational stories that made my day dear Rama.

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  11. Wonderful and heart touching stories!! Thank you so much for sharing!! :)

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