Random Acts of Kindness

It's been mentioned here at SIS quite a few times how much we all detest rude people. It seems as though the number of rude people I encounter each day seems to grow and grow. The other day I was approaching a convenience store entrance at the same time as one of its employees. She saw me coming and picked up her pace to get to the door first. Was she trying to get there first so she could hold the door for me? How very nice! But, no. She opened the door, walked in and let the door close in my face. I couldn't believe it!

Rude and inconsiderate acts take place every day to every one of us. And we are always appalled and always complaining, but the fact remains that it's just part of life. Not every one out there is a decent person. But there are plenty of kind considerate people out there. They may be hard to find, but they are there. Isn't it nice when someone does something nice for you for no reason at all? Especially when it is a stranger.

Last year, my husband, children and I went to a local family sports pub. We needed an inexpensive day out so we decided to go and play some darts and have some munchies. While playing, our server came over and asked if we were busy that night. Odd question I thought, but we answered no and asked why. She asked if we wanted to go to a Buccaneer pre-season game. She had four tickets that the owner wasn't using and we were welcome to take them if we wanted to go. I love football and was thrilled. We accepted the tickets and went to the game and although we were at the very top of the stadium, I mean the very last row of seats, we had a great time. There were plenty of people in that pub that day and she could have given those tickets to anyone. I'm so glad she chose us! How nice!

We moved into our new house last year just two days before Christmas. It was such a hectic time, but we were finally in and just getting situated. We stayed home for New Year's Eve with the boys. We all watched the ball drop and looked forward to the start of a new year. We awoke New Year's Day to a plumbing nightmare. Both toilets were over flowing and water was every where. My wonderful husband was in there plunging and flushing and doing his best to fix the problem as water continued to flood the bathrooms.

We finally rented a snake from Home Depot and after 3 more hours had the problem solved. Now it was time for me to clean that mess up. I was throwing towels on the floor and gagging and cursing and so not happy about the whole thing. I called Barb to complain and told her how I knew it was mostly only water, but I didn't think I would ever be able to use my towels again. A couple days later, I came home and found a big box on the door step. I wasn't expecting anything. Inside, beautiful towels with a note from Barb saying how she and her mother-in-law had found a great sale and she hoped we would enjoy them. I cried. Every time I pull one of those towels out of the linen closet, I think of her and smile. How very thoughtful!

My husband and I, on several occasions, have seen women walking alone on the side of the road. Some have been old, some have been disabled, one was drunk. We pull over and offer them a ride and to my surprise, all but one have accepted. One woman was probably 70 years old. She had been to the hospital for tests and couldn't reach her husband to get a ride home so she decided to walk. I think she must have totally misjudged the distance because when we found her she had already walked about 2 miles and was have much difficulty. She said her home was just a little further. It was probably 3 miles more to her house. All of these women have been so thankful that we stopped and offered them a ride. I'm glad we do it. I just hope we don't happen to pick up some gun toting grandmother!

When was the last time someone did something nice for you? It could be the smallest of gestures. Just some thing that made you say, "Wow! That was really nice!"

And while you're out in the world today, do some thing nice for some one. Help an old lady cross the street. Let some one with less items than you get in front of you in line at the grocery store. Or maybe just smile at some one who looks like they are having a bad day. Spread the love people! Spread the love!

Have a Spectacular Day!

SIS Bren