Show Kindness Every Day.
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This
post
was sent
to us by email and, unfortunately, the author is unknown. We thought
it was so good that we wanted to share it with you. We hope you
enjoy it as much as we did.
YOU
WILL READ IN 2016.
WILL READ IN 2016.
As
you read this post, put yourself in this situation and use your
imagination to think about an elderly relative, family friend or yourself.
you read this post, put yourself in this situation and use your
imagination to think about an elderly relative, family friend or yourself.
Sometimes
the things that seem trivial to us may turn out to be a great
blessing to someone else!
the things that seem trivial to us may turn out to be a great
blessing to someone else!
THE
CAB RIDE
CAB RIDE
I
arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few
minutes, I walked to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered
a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across
the floor.
arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few
minutes, I walked to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered
a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across
the floor.
After
a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood
before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a
veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie. By her side
was a small nylon suitcase.
a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood
before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a
veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie. By her side
was a small nylon suitcase.
The
apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the
furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the
walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was
a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the
furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the
walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was
a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
‘Would
you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to
the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to
the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She
took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking
me for my kindness.
took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking
me for my kindness.
‘It’s
nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I
would want my mother to be treated.’
nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I
would want my mother to be treated.’
‘Oh,
you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me
an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’ ‘It’s
not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly.
you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me
an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’ ‘It’s
not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly.
‘Oh,
I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a
hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were
glistening.
I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a
hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were
glistening.
‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft
voice.. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached
over and shut off the meter.
voice.. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached
over and shut off the meter.
‘What
route would you like me to take?’ I asked. For the next two hours,
we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had
once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the
neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were
newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that
had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
route would you like me to take?’ I asked. For the next two hours,
we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had
once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the
neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were
newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that
had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes
she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As
the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’. We drove in silence to the address she
had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a portico.
the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’. We drove in silence to the address she
had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home,
with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two
orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been
expecting her.
orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been
expecting her.
I
opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman
was already seated in a wheelchair.
opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman
was already seated in a wheelchair.
‘How
much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse. ‘Nothing,’ I
said.
much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse. ‘Nothing,’ I
said.
‘You
have to make a living,’ she answered. ‘There are other passengers,’
I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly. ‘You gave an old woman a little moment of
joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
have to make a living,’ she answered. ‘There are other passengers,’
I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.
She held onto me tightly. ‘You gave an old woman a little moment of
joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
I
squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life…
squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life…
I
didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly
lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What
if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to
end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked
once, then driven away?
didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly
lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What
if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to
end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked
once, then driven away?
On
a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more
important in my life.
a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more
important in my life.
We’re
conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.
conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.
People
May Not Remember Exactly What You Did, Or What You Said ~BUT~THEY
Will Always Remember How You Made Them Feel.
May Not Remember Exactly What You Did, Or What You Said ~BUT~THEY
Will Always Remember How You Made Them Feel.
Often
it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.
it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.
Life
may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as
well dance. “Many people walk in and out of your life, but only
love will leave footprints in your heart…..”
may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as
well dance. “Many people walk in and out of your life, but only
love will leave footprints in your heart…..”
Take time to be kind to someone today.
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