GRATITUDE

The websites and publications below provided the selected stories of people who were blessed by those willing to show unconditional kindness. This section will be updated periodically, so come back often to reflect on the Power of Gratitude. 

When you get out of bed in the morning, ask yourself, “Who can I bless today?” Be an angel. Make your own stories.

A Family’s Food Angel

While going through a divorce, my mother fretted over her new worries: no income, the same bills, and no way to afford groceries. It was around this time that she started finding boxes of food outside our door every morning. This went on for months until she was able to land a job. We never did find out who left the groceries, but they truly saved our lives. —Jamie Boleyn, Emmett, Idaho

Seven Miles for Me

Leaving a store, I returned to my car only to find that I’d locked my keys and cell phone inside. A teenager riding his bike saw me kick a tire and say a few choice words. “What’s wrong?” he asked. I explained my situation. “But even if I could call my wife,” I said, “she can’t bring me her car key, since this is our only car.” He handed me his cell phone. “Call your wife and tell her I’m coming to get her key.” “That’s seven miles round trip.” “Don’t worry about it.” An hour later, he returned with my key. I offered him some money, but he refused. “Let’s just say I needed the exercise,” he said. Then, like a cowboy in the movies, he rode off into the sunset. —Clarence W. Stephens, Nicholasville, Kentucky

A Little Lift

One evening, I left a restaurant just ahead of a woman assisting her elderly mom. I approached the curb and paused to see if my arthritic knees could climb it. To my right appeared an arm to assist. It was that of the elderly mom. My heart was so touched. —Donna Moerie, Goldsboro, North Carolina

My Granddaughter’s Dress

I saw a dress in a consignment shop that I knew my granddaughter would love. But money was tight, so I asked the store owner if she could hold it for me. “May I buy the dress for you?” asked another customer. “Thank you, but I can’t accept such a gracious gift,” I said. Then she told me why it was so important for her to help me. She’d been homeless for three years, she said, and had it not been for the kindness of strangers, she would not have been able to survive. “I’m no longer homeless, and my situation has improved,” she said. “I promised myself that I would repay the kindness so many had shown me.” She paid for the dress, and the only payment she would accept in return was a heartfelt hug. —Stacy Lee, Columbia, Maryland

Something To Give

As I walked through the parking lot, all I could think about was the dire diagnosis I had handed my patient Jimmy: pancreatic cancer. Just then, I noticed an elderly gentleman handing tools to someone working under his stalled car. That someone was Jimmy. “Jimmy, what are you doing?” I yelled out. Jimmy dusted off his pants. “My cancer didn’t tell me not to help others, Doc,” he said, before waving at the old man to start the car. The engine roared to life. The old man thanked Jimmy and drove off. Then Jimmy got into his car and took off as well. Take-home message: Kindness has no limits and no restrictions. —Mohammed Basha, Gainesville, Florida

Highway Hero

Driving home in a blizzard, I noticed a vehicle trailing close behind me. Suddenly, my tire blew! I pulled off the road, and so did the other car. A man jumped out from behind the wheel and without hesitation changed the flat. “I was going to get off two miles back,” he said. “But I didn’t think that tire looked good.” —Marilyn Attebery, Spokane Valley, Washington

Just Driving Through

When my friend and I were injured in a car accident, a family from out of state stopped to help. Seeing we were hurt, they drove us to the hospital and stayed there until we were released. They then took us home, got us food, and made sure we were settled in. Amazingly, they interrupted their vacation to help us. —Cindy Earls, Ada, Oklahoma

Through Sickness and Health

My neighbors, Jay and Treva, have been the best since we moved in. When my husband got brain cancer, they helped with yard work and snow removal. When Jim passed away, they were always helping me with anything they could. Meals, yard work, snow removal, putting my trash can away when I would forget. They still continue to care for me and if they don’t see me outside for a while they text to make sure I am alright, and not down or anything. I know I can always count on them to be there for me no matter what happens! —Shelly Golay, Casper, Wyoming

A Guardian Angel at the Gas Station

I was 40 miles from home in a high-crime area for a work obligation and I had driven with my empty gas tank light on for the entire trip there. I had $1.67 on my debit card and as I asked the clerk at the sketchy gas station I stopped at to put $1.00 on my pump, a man walked in. My card was declined so I sat in my car trying to find any change or singles I might have stashed. The man came up to my car and told me he put $5.00 on my pump. I don't know if this man has any idea how much he helped me but it got me home safe even though I cried tears of appreciation for most of my drive.

A Quiet Gesture of Comfort and Care

I'm a burn survivor. I was injured when someone neglectfully tossed chemicals on a bonfire. I spent a month in the hospital, had to have surgery, etc. When I got home I was severely depressed and struggled with PTSD. My mom decided to get me out of the house and took me to get my nails done and a pedicure. My usual nail girl was aware of the incident and was quietly asking me questions while I got my pedicure. When it was time to pay, they told me the woman seated next to me paid for my entire treatment and tip. It was a small gesture, but it made me burst into tears. I was so grateful. I never got to thank her.

A Warm Meal for a Tired Worker

When I was working at Hobby Lobby during the Christmas season, I was sick and had almost lost my voice, but kept my attitude very upbeat. It was almost at the end of the night when this elderly couple came through my line. We started joking about them going to Cracker Barrel and the man asked me what I wanted. I joked about meatloaf and green beans with a sweet tea. About 20 minutes later, the elderly couple came back into the store with a bag from Cracker Barrel with my exact order, down to the sweet tea. The lady whispered, 'Merry Christmas' to me and I literally cried right there in the store.

A Christmas Miracle

My parents got divorced when I was 10. My mom and I struggled financially after that and our first few holidays were hard. My first Christmas after the divorce was difficult and emotional for both of us. On our first Christmas Eve without my dad our doorbell rang, and when I opened the door no one was there, but someone had left an envelope. In the envelope was a card from 'Santa' with a few hundred dollar bills. Someone had anonymously tried to give us a great Christmas, and to this day we still have no idea who it was! I’ll remember that forever.

A Celebration of Life

When I was 23, I was going through chemo and the day I found out it was working and I would survive, my friend and I went to lunch and an anonymous person covered the bill. That was the most important day of my life and the person who covered the bill will never know just how much it meant to me. I wish I could say thank you but since I cannot I try and pay it forward.

A Concerned Stranger

After my family and I lost our home in the Tubbs fire last year, I found myself sobbing in a McDonald's parking lot a day or two later. I didn't think anybody could hear or see me but a woman came over to my car, gave me a huge hug, and pulled out her wallet to give me a fifty dollar bill. I kept trying to give it back to her, but she insisted. I felt like I could do nothing but cry more and tell her thank you, while the only thing she told me was, to keep it and help my family. I never even got her name. —

An Angel Who Opened Her Home to a Complete Stranger

I was in grad school and 70 miles from home when my car blew a gasket in a snowstorm. On a Sunday. No mechanic shops open, and no one would tow my car back to my place until the snowstorm lifted because of the dangerous roads. I was crying in a coffee shop on the phone, and a woman approached me and offered me a place to stay for the night. She did not know me at all, and she took me back to her house where I ate dinner with her, her mom, and her kids and slept in borrowed pajamas in her office. The next day she drove me back to my car and I got towed home. I will never forget what extreme kindness it must have taken to bring a stranger into your home with your kids like that.

A Good Tip

Fat-fingered the tip on a tablet screen. Meant to hit $50, hit $500. Didn’t notice until I checked my bank app at home. My wife said to call the restaurant. I almost did. Then I remembered the waitress mentioning she was working doubles to save for her mom’s surgery. I’d made a joke about her being tired. She’d laughed it off but her eyes were exhausted. I put my phone down.

Three months later I went back. Different waitress. I asked about the other girl. “Oh, Maria? She’s not here anymore. Her mom got better and Maria went back to nursing school. She talks about some customer who changed everything but she never knew who.”

That $500 hurt my budget for a month. But I’ve wasted more on dumber things. I’ve never regretted it.

Welding a Change of Life

I caught this 16 y.o. on my ring camera. He keyed my truck because I’d yelled at him for skateboarding in my parking lot the week before. I had his face. Could’ve called the cops. Instead I showed up at his house. His mom answered, looking defeated. Single parent, working three jobs. Kid had no father figure and too much anger. I told her I wouldn’t press charges if he worked off the damage. She cried and agreed.

He showed up expecting to clean gutters. I put him to work in my shop instead. Taught him to weld. Kid had natural talent.

Long story short: 6 years later, I’m semi-retired and he runs the fabrication side of my metalwork business. He bought the truck he vandalized off me last year. Keeps the key mark as a reminder. “That scratch is the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said.

Revenge would’ve felt good for a day. This feels good forever.

Several ideas on showing kindness can be found at Random Acts of Kindness: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-stories