I've got nothing

People had to fight like hell to get the homeless shelter re-opened in Green Bay recently. You should have heard the mindless comments by those who were in opposition.

Christmastime last year, I worked for a retail catalog center. My hours had abruptly dropped from 50 hrs to 20 hrs a week. My ex had had the spousal support and child support dropped considerably. I was selling furniture that I had got in divorce settlement just to pay the rent for January.

It was Christmas Eve and I didn't have a Christmas tree, it made me feel sad. The girls at work told me that Walmart might still have Christmas trees left and I went straight there after I got off of work. I had just enough money to buy a tree.

I went there, there was some left. The sign in front of them had a handwritten sign over it that said 1/2 off. Teary eyed, I picked one out and told the dude that I wanted it, don't let anyone take it while I go pay for it. He said hold on a minute. He answered his cell phone and then told me that the tree was FREE! "It was late in the day and they had more left than they anticipated." I didn't know whether to believe him or not and just looked at him dumbfounded and said thank you. He helped me stuff it in my car and I went back in and was able to buy lights, garland and tinsel and a half gallon of egg nog. While I was standing in line waiting to pay, I noticed others picking out their trees and coming over to stand in line to pay for them. The same guy out there helping them that had helped me. When I was leaving, tears streaming down my face, I saw the guy again and I hugged him and told him Merry Christmas and cried all the way "home".

My daughters 22 and 17 at the time had already accepted that there was not going to be a tree and were so surprised that I had one stuffed in my car. We spent the rest of the evening decorating it and having a great time together.

Does this qualify as random acts of kindness? Probably not, but, it is an experience that will stay with me for years to come.

The otherday...driving past a parking lot...some poor Japanese guy was standing by his car's flat tire with a tire iron in one hand, a hammer in the other and a puzzled look in his face. His wife was sitting in the car. Pulled up and walked over to him...(I speak a little Japanese) Took his tools and changed the tire. That was one very happy couple.

They might not speak english but, it is nice to know that they left with a good impression.

Christmastime last year, I worked for a retail catalog center. My hours had abruptly dropped from 50 hrs to 20 hrs a week. My ex had had the spousal support and child support dropped considerably. I was selling furniture that I had got in divorce settlement just to pay the rent for January.

It was Christmas Eve and I didn't have a Christmas tree, it made me feel sad. The girls at work told me that Walmart might still have Christmas trees left and I went straight there after I got off of work. I had just enough money to buy a tree.

I went there, there was some left. The sign in front of them had a handwritten sign over it that said 1/2 off. Teary eyed, I picked one out and told the dude that I wanted it, don't let anyone take it while I go pay for it. He said hold on a minute. He answered his cell phone and then told me that the tree was FREE! "It was late in the day and they had more left than they anticipated." I didn't know whether to believe him or not and just looked at him dumbfounded and said thank you. He helped me stuff it in my car and I went back in and was able to buy lights, garland and tinsel and a half gallon of egg nog. While I was standing in line waiting to pay, I noticed others picking out their trees and coming over to stand in line to pay for them. The same guy out there helping them that had helped me. When I was leaving, tears streaming down my face, I saw the guy again and I hugged him and told him Merry Christmas and cried all the way "home".

My daughters 22 and 17 at the time had already accepted that there was not going to be a tree and were so surprised that I had one stuffed in my car. We spent the rest of the evening decorating it and having a great time together.

Does this qualify as random acts of kindness? Probably not, but, it is an experience that will stay with me for years to come.

In the 90's when my daughter was in the Navy, she did not take shore leave for 5 yrs, that was her choice.. She had mentioned that a lot of the young people on board would never even get a Xmas card let alone some presents... Well, when I was making cookies and candy to send my daughter I would always make extra and send for her to share..one time I even sent a small tree w/decorations and they taped it to the Chief's desk and sent pics of it.. I would also send anything they could microwave, hot choc, popcorn, and other little goodies I would find.. I did receive many thank you's but it was my way of saying thank you for serving and giving back...

Well I had been doing restoration work on a flooded house. I felt so bad to just be throwing all these peoples 30 years of accumulated waterlogged stuff, when I came across there wedding album. I carried it outside and removed all the photos for them to dry in the sun. Later that day the home owners came by to check the progress, As I was carrying out some soaked drywall, there was the wife crying over the photos. she told me that there were no copys of these photos and wanted to thank the person who took the time to care for someone elses memory.
I told her I was not sure who did it but I was glad that her photos were ok and went about my work.

A few months ago a co-worker of mine had their 7th child. The child was unfortunately born with a disorder in the brain and was not expected to live. He passed the word of his child's condition through the office so that we would all know what was happening and asked that we pray for his son. A few days after the birth, I was leaving a local driving range and was approached by a younger guy on a bicycle. He was a little unkempt looking and I assumed that he was going to ask me for a handout. To my surprise, this person whom I've never met, asked me if there was anything going on in my life that he could pray for? Personal strife? Financial trouble? After a short pause, I told him the story of my friend at work and what he and his family were going through. Nothing in my life came close to that. After hearing the circumstances, this young guy started an impromptu prayer for my friend, his family, and son. It was really pretty amazing. Completely off the cuff but organized and thoughtful. It's been a few months now and the child is improving against all predictions. He has been released from the hospital and is now home with his very happy family. It makes you wonder....

"Awwwww...." was what I was thinking to myself as I read this -- so kind to take a few minutes of your time to think of them and make sure they were able to have those pictures of such a special day in their lives.

Those are irreplaceable, and you helped them keep that...and annonymously; what a kind heart...