Hello everyone! I hope all is well with you. I’m back today with another Slice of Life Post. Today I’m reflecting on the kindness of strangers. Have you ever been in a situation where you needed help and had to rely on someone you didn’t know? It’s happened to me twice in the last six months.
It started out as a dead battery. I went to the grocery story, bought my groceries, wheeled them out to the car, and unloaded my cart. The sun beat down as I climbed behind the wheel and turned the key. Nothing. I couldn’t believe it.
Photo credit: Gerry Balding via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
I quickly called my husband and made arrangements for him to pick me up. While I waited (sweating in the hot sun), a nice woman offered to jump my car. We worked together and got my car started. I thanked her, she left, and my car ran for about three seconds and then died again. My husband arrived after I baked for a little bit longer and brought me and the groceries home.
The reason I’m telling you this story is because I’m so grateful for the kindness of strangers. I appreciate all the people who’ve helped me out when I’ve been in a tight spot.
Photo credit: Ed Yourdon via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
I know we watch the news and we hear about bombings, mass shootings, and hate crimes, and each event is a horrible thing. But, there is good in the world, too. The goodness doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It isn’t as newsworthy as a hate crime or a mass shooting.
Photo credit: fishin widow via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA
But as I stood there in the parking lot, (because it was way too hot to sit in the car) letting people know I was having car trouble, and I wasn’t standing there waiting to steal their groceries. The majority of the people I came into contact with were very kind, especially the woman who jumped my car. She took time out on a steamy day and helped me, someone she didn’t know. This is a small event, but I wonder if all these small events were added together if it could somehow have a positive effect on the universe and cancel out all the negative ones.
Photo via Visual Hunt
I’m grateful for that woman who was kind to me, and as I write this post, I realize I’m grateful for the kind man who changed my tire for me three months ago. I offered him money, but he declined it. He just said, help someone else when you can. Pay it forward.
I think we need more people to pay it forward, don’t you? Thanks for reading my post today. Do you have a story to share about the kindness of strangers? If you do, leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
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