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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

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Friday, October 30, 2009

THE STORY TELLER - DOING GOOD IS CATCHY

This is a real story. I know the people from this story personally. Nothing is altered or embellished to make it more interesting.

Someone I know closely, has something remarkable going on. He looks very ordinary in his jeans and plaid shirt. He does not seem particularly well to do, artistic, or knowledgeable. 
What is strange is that so many times he is at the right place at the right time.

Often when he is in the process of doing his daily job, or running his errands. 



This time, he was almost home, and was going to pass an intersection.
A man was standing on the divider with a sign, saying:
"Homeless and hungry. Sorry, I have to ask."

My friend had had some difficult months behind him. Laid off after 20 years. Filed for unemployment. Tried to sell his house, but after several months it was still not sold.
He had only four dollars in his pocket. But suddenly he became overwhelmed with thankfulness. He thought that at least he was still living in a house, and still could buy food. 
This man standing on the divider had less, so he gave him the four dollars.

The next day he was talking to his realtor on the cell phone, while he was walking from his car to the store to get some supplies. While he was talking, he suddenly saw a five dollar bill on the ground. Perplexed he said loudly to his realtor, "There's a five dollar bill on the ground!"


We are not always rewarded for doing good. But this five dollar bill was an encouragement to my friend.
His children too had caught his life style. 
(I think that children learn better when it's caught than when it's taught! 

One of his daughters spent increasingly more time with her high school friend. 
When her mother asked, "Don't you have a paper due tomorrow?" 
She answered, "Yes, but I've mine done already."
"So, why did you say you needed to study at your friends house then?"

She told her mother that she was writing the paper for her friend, because the latter had aphasia (a reading problem where you mix up the letters in a word). 
This mother was very surprised and told her daughter that it she needed to teach her friend to read instead of writing the paper for her school friend. 

He discovered that one of his other children in elementary school, was helping the handicapped kids during recess, so their teachers would have time to get  lunch for themselves. 

Then on another occasion, he heard that one of his children had given the guitar away which had taken him 6 months to save up for. 
When the father inquired why he had done this, his son said that he did it, because he believed that it would save his friend from doing drugs.

Doing good. I'm telling you this story, because we are gearing up for winter, and so many more people right now, with having lost their job or house, will need our help. 
The people you see in the street, or people you know have a difficult time.

A little act of kindness
I hope you'll do it when you suspect  
someone needs something that you have.

34 comments:

Carol Murdock said...

WONDERFUL POST JEANNETTE! :)

Reader Wil said...

It's a great story, Jeannette! Good to remember! And to do the things we must do!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Simply beautiful Jeannette. A small kindness sometimes goes a long, long way. Maybe it is just a smile or an encouraging word. In the end, It always makes us feel good about it, and yes, sometimes we are lucky to get kindness back.

Tony nile life said...

I hope you'll do it when you suspect
someone needs something that you have.

hmm" maybe you should come and live in Egypt. you will soon change the attitude of giving.
these people will take the shirt off my back then laugh because I was the fool for giving it.
most of these people do not need money its just that they want my money, and everybody else's .
never had thoughts like this until I came to this country.
and before you say I am not kind read my first half of my volunteer days

http://tonythevolunteer.blogspot.com/

Rudee said...

I believe many blessings come our way when we pay it forward.

Irene said...

I has 13 Euros left in my bank account to do groceries with and somehow that was just enough to make it until the next welfare payment. Sometimes I feel blessed indeed.

Unknown said...

Wonderful post Jeannette! Random acts of kindness never goes unrewarded.

Patience-please said...

A great reminder, thank you.

Jeannette StG said...

Carol,
sometimes we forget how good we have it:)

Jeannette StG said...

Wil,
Well put! We do not only have money:)

Jeannette StG said...

Joan,
Maybe you never thought about it, Joan, but you are good in small kindnesses:)

Jeannette StG said...

Tony,
Sorry that you got taken advantage of! And thanks for your honesty:) When we have a generous heart, it's also good to be careful, especially with money. I like to give other things, like clothes or water, or something like that.

Jeannette StG said...

Renee,
That's an interesting way to put it, but I think it's true!

Jeannette StG said...

Irene,
Wow that was close, Irene. Such things boggles the mind, isn't it?

Jeannette StG said...

Jane,
Thank you Jane! So true, at some point (but we never know when) what we give comes back to us:)

Jeannette StG said...

Patience,
Yes, I think it's a healthier approach to life than complaining about the economy. I was always an idealist:) and so ARE YOU!

Diane AZ said...

Lovely post and storyteller picture. It's nice to hear about people kindly helping others and I agree "doing good is catchy."

Jeannette StG said...

Diane,
we could see the storyteller sitting right from the window of the coffeeshop. And a family with kids would come by, sit on the benches, listen to his story, give him a donation, and then leave.

Unknown said...

How much I understand that concept, still do it when I can and as often as I can. Not looking for any reward tho, not ever. It is the "doing the random acts of kindness" that keeps me sane many days.

crochet lady said...

Thanks for encouraging kindness. It is always the best action. It is great to hear those stories of people making a difference in someone's life.

Jeannette StG said...

Joey,
Yes, I had that sense about you, Joey!
My friend was not looking for a reward either. He was so stunned that he almost jelled through the phone to his realtor, who was also flabbergasted!

Jeannette StG said...

Jen,
And I am most encouraged that kids catch on to this very quickly!

DUTA said...

There's nothing like a good story with a morale.

I'm not surprised the man found a five dollar bill; when you give you also receive, when you open your heart to your fellowman, God rewards you , opens a good way in front of you , a way that may bring you success and prosperity.

Susan at Stony River said...

What an amazing family, such wonderful kids! I do believe we're rewarded for good deeds, and I loved this post!

Jeannette StG said...

Duta,
You have in your country an awesome heritage and knowledge of that. You breathe it in the air, and are so much surrounded with it. I am sometimes (in a good way) jealous of that.

Jeannette StG said...

Susan,
I know several families where the parents make it a point to teach their kids this and seek out these opportunities.
What an influence we have as a parent:), I think of your adorable kids - may they grow up to be candles of kindness.

Kathryn Magendie said...

How beautiful! Love this post....


(and my son and his wife live in Oregon! so far away!)

Jeannette StG said...

Kathryn,
Yes I know, that's why I asked that question! In Oregon it still gets cold in the winter though, and I've heard it's very beautiful there! (haven't been there yet myself!)

Eki said...

a very poignant story Jeannette. I too believe in this thing called doing good thing when the occasion requires.

thank you for visiting and commentng on my blog. i'm glad you found my blog useful. btw, which Indonesian city were you born in?

Zuzana said...

Beautiful story and beautiful sentiment. My Irish boyfriend always generously awards anyone money, particularly musicians in the streets. And he always finds coins and money notes in the streets, more than anyone I know.;)
xoxo
Zuzana

S said...

What a heart-warming story! Thanks for sharing it with us - I will sure try to perform a small act of kindness everyday, even if it is just picking up litter :)

Jeannette StG said...

Eki Qushan
Thank you, Eki (hope that that is the name you go by? -If not, let me know!) Since I was 5 years old when I left, I have a natural curiosity for culture and customs:)
I lived in Soerabaja.

Jeannette StG said...

Zuzanna,
Thank you, Zuzanna. Ah, how interesting! Some people seem to have a gift finding things in the streets!

Jeannette StG said...

Sreddy,
Am happy that this story inspired you. The best reward for being kind to others is that people are kind to you!