Posts Tagged With: compassion
What do you do when the batteries die?
Good People Still Exist!!
I parked my car in an outdoor lot. I forgot to roll up my window, because my mind, as always, must’ve been on other things. I came back a long time later — many, many, many days later. Look what a perfect stranger had done for me, in my absence. Look at the beautiful poem of love that is this note: “Your window was down and the rain was coming. I did my best to help you out. xx — The green truck next to you.” By the time I saw this note, the green truck was long gone. I will never know who did this for me. But I love you. Thank you for taking the time to do this kind act for a stranger. I’m sitting here in my parked car, unable to drive because there are tears in my eyes. I am reminded once more of this sacred truth: Never doubt that thousands of invisible hands are helping you at all times. Love is everywhere, even if you can’t see it. The tenderest care will arrive when you least expect it, and from someone whose name you may never know. Thank you, Green Truck. Thank you.❤️ post by Elizabeth Gilbert
5 Young Men Make Elderly Veteran Cry By Repeatedly Disturbing Him During His Meal
When Lou Zezoff, a 74-year-old Vietnam veteran, stopped at a Cracker Barrel with Annette, his wife, he wasn’t expecting to end the meal in tears.
Lou makes a habit of wearing his cap, with “US Navy Vietnam Veteran” printed on it, whenever he goes out.
It was this cap that caught the eyes of five young men sitting near to him as they waited for their food in the Granite City, Illinois establishment.
As Lou and his wife were eating, one of the men approached their table. Lou automatically stood up, noting that he and his friends looked like servicemen due to their haircuts.
He wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but then the young man extended his hand for a handshake and profusely thanked Lou for his service to the country.
It was a gesture that definitely surprised Lou, who hadn’t expected something like this to happen in a random restaurant.
But that wasn’t all – the other four men came over to continue thanking him.
They were all Marines and wanted to make that night one that Lou would never forget.
The young men eventually went back to their seats, and Lou and Annette finished their food.
They called for the check, and that’s when the waiter told them that the bill had already been paid for by the young Marines.
On the receipt were the messages “Semper Fi” and “Oorah”.
Shocked, Lou went back over to their table and told them that he knew they likely didn’t make a lot of money due to their jobs.
He said their thanks was more than enough and they didn’t have to pay for his food. But the Marines insisted and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
They truly wanted him to know how much they valued him.
After a while, the Marine men planned to leave. But before they did, the young men went back up to Lou and his wife.
They all shook his hand and gave him a hug each, one at a time.
Lou couldn’t help feeling tears well up in his eyes at their simple but truly thoughtful gesture that showed how much they appreciated him and respected his sacrifices.
All around him, the diner had fallen silent, and they were all staring and watching the touching and moving events unfold.
Then, lastly, one of the Marine’s gave Lou and extremely sharp and formal salute, and all five men turned and left the establishment.
Breathless, Lou turned to his wife, who told him he should probably sit down and collect himself after such an amazing, heartwarming occurrence – one that she, too, was still reeling from.
It wasn’t long from then when the five Marines were located by a news station.
They were private first class Marines and, when asked why they had done this for Lou, they replied that it was just the right thing.
He fought for them and for their country, and it was now their turn to return the sacrifice.
Servicemen and servicewomen truly deserve compassion, respect, and gratitude for all that they have done for their nation!
Choosing Kindness
By – Amy Beth Gardner
My daughter starts middle school tomorrow. We’ve decorated her locker, bought new uniforms, even surprised her with a new backpack. But tonight just before bed, we did another pre-middle school task that is far more important than the others. I gave her a tube of toothpaste and asked her to squirt it out onto a plate. When she finished, I calmly asked her to put all the toothpaste back in the tube. She began exclaiming things like “But I can’t!” and “It won’t be like it was before!” I quietly waited for her to finish and then said the following:
“You will remember this plate of toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life or death. As you go into middle school, you are about to see just how much weight your words carry. You are going to have the opportunity to use your words to hurt, demean, slander and wound others. You are also going to have the opportunity to use your words to heal, encourage, inspire and love others. You will occasionally make the wrong choice; I can think of three times this week I have used my own words carelessly and caused harm. Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can’t take them back. Use your words carefully, Breonna. When others are misusing their words, guard your words. Make the choice every morning that life-giving words will come out of your mouth. Decide tonight that you are going to be a life-giver in middle school. Be known for your gentleness and compassion. Use your life to give life to a world that so desperately needs it. You will never, ever regret choosing kindness.”
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