Category: Stories of Kindness

They had a fantastic coffee setup – different roasts, all the flavor additions, an assortment of creams, even chocolate and cinnamon to sprinkle on top! The only thing missing were Small size cups. I don’t like getting too much coffee at once, it always goes cold before I finish and doesn’t taste good. So I used the Medium cup, but only filled it about 2/3 of the way.

When I took the cup to the register, the man working there noticed that I hadn’t filled it all the way – and said, “Take it.” I looked at him like I had no idea what he was talking about, because I really didn’t! He said it again, and I said, “No, I’ll pay for it” – just because I didn’t fill it all the way doesn’t mean I expected a discount. Again, he said, “Take it, it’s yours.”  I was just stunned. I mean, I know a cup of coffee doesn’t seem like a big thing, but just the fact that he even thought to give it to me at no charge – how many people do you know who do that?!

I wish I’d gotten his name, and I wish I’d had one of your Let Love Guide Your Way buttons with me, I would have gone back inside and given it to him!

It’s so nice to know that there are kind, generous people out there, in some of the most unexpected places!

During this time, in Miami, a group of Cuban exiles banned together to create a rescue organization called Brothers-to-the-Rescue.  This was a group of Americans created to search for Cuban refugees mostly by air. These were highly skilled pilots, some  even flew for the Cuban Air Force, that were determined to save as many Cuban refugees as possible.  They were motivated to save their countrymen, their brothers, and willing to challenge American foreign policy regarding Cuba.

Using small private Cessna-type planes, the Brothers-to-the-Rescue would fly together over the Atlantic waters in search of and to assist deserted rafters.   These very dangerous aerial missions were highly controversial since the planes would often enter Cuban air space.  These were very brave men supporting a humanitarian cause and supporting human rights.

This group did this for many years saving many lives until one day I clearly remember my father very emotional.  He was holding back his tears when he told me our friend, Armando, had been one of the planes shot down by Cuban jets.  Armando was big man. Hee was a very happy man.  He always gave me candy.  The news reported these planes were known to be flying humanitarian missions over international airspace and that the small planes were clearly unarmed.  They were shot down by Cuban Mig fighters. The radar path showed both planes in American airspace.  It was an international incident.

I remember that day so vividly.  My father was the most humble man. We are not Cuban or from Spanish origins. Our family heritage is European and we are Jewish.  Nevertheless, my father and his partner had been financing this humanitarian group and their missions. My dad and his partner were risking their business and safety.  They both told me that we needed to help these people … people we did not know … strangers in life threatening circumstance. I remember that day we cried for strangers and for those people we cared for so dearly.

It was the lesson that taught me to speak up for those I would never meet. That day taught me to help those who need help especially if you are in the blessed position to be able.

The lesson of helping if you can help will change your life. My father taught me to help … but not, just, to help. I miss you dad.

It was dark in the early morning hours and very dangerous to be without protection both from animals like bears and the very cold.  I was very concerned for our safety. We did not have enough gas to stay warm nor protection through the frigid weather of the night. The hours passed, we could hear bears near our area and we were scared. We had no guns or any way to make a fire. We were not prepared to be stuck in the cold in the dark. 

Soon we huddled together to stay warm and, mostly, to pray. We were off the usual road and we needed help to come soon or we would be in trouble.   We were cold. I felt helpless.

But somehow we were soon awakened by a hiker.  He saw our stranded car and figured we needed help when he saw fog on the windows. The hiker had a map of the area, a working radio and he was able to call for help. Cell phones don’t work in this remote area.

He said he normally does not hike this path because it is too dangerous and remote to be alone.  But he said he had a premonition to travel this road and are we glad he did.   He had to be an Angel sent from heaven.

Needless to say, I have a new best friend in my neighborhood.  But it is strange that we never saw this big dog again.  We were able to save my puppy, Sammy, who is now almost a year old and doing well thanks to being saved by a friendly stranger.

It says “Thank you for what you do for the Howard Middle School kids, we just wanted you to know we appreciate you”: grateful parents.. then it says ‘over’ and on the back is a Walmart gift card. The card in itself blew me away and the gift card totally got to me, but what really clinched my heart, is we don’t even cross their kids, but they see what we do everyday for others.

Thank you mystery parents, the card was enough, the gift was amazing, your appreciation will last a lifetime.

You see I have a rare blood-type, AB negative blood, and in addition to having certain health issues that requires special medical attention during blood transfusion, my blood is hard to get in an emergency because it cannot be stored. Basically, I need rare blood that is ‘fresh’. This makes it hard to get unless I can plan ahead.

Throughout my entire life I have been very fortunate and extremely careful to never get cut or lose blood that would require blood transfusions.  My parents always taught me to be extra safe, extra careful and that if I ever needed blood, that it would be severely life threatening.  I knew that if I ever needed blood in an emergency, that I would probably die.

There I was on the way to celebrate with family and instead of heading to the holiday dinner, I was heading to the hospital unconscious and bleeding.  I don’t remember anything after the accident’s impact. I was out of it. When I got to the emergency room, I was told my sister was already at the hospital and that she was ready to give her blood.  My sister knew only she could save me.

It was a very bad situation for me but having my sister in my location exactly in my time of need saved my life. Once she heard I was hurt and bleeding, she knew that she was the only one that would be in the same vicinity to meet my blood-type requirements.

I love you sis!

My Kindness Story is about my Neighbor.  He is very special and is always looking out for our neighborhood.  Not like a police commando but like a concerned friend who just happens to be your neighbor that is making sure all is well.

The above photo shows me at the beach, while this happened to my house, when traveling as I am always on the road.  As the last hurricane was heading in our direction, it was already too late to fly home to take care of my house. If you do not know about hurricanes, it is very difficult to get a flight into the path of the storm so it was impossible to get home.  It also takes time, energy and supplies to prepare a home properly before a storm.

This meant my home and property would be unprotected during this terrible hurricane.

During storms like hurricanes, most communications are not working including the Internet. I could not reach anyone in the neighborhood by phone.  Those neighbors who  answered their phone had already left the area to be in a safe zone and they had no information.

It took three days to get home after the storm and when I arrived I could not believe what I had seen.  My house was completely boarded up with plywood and was safe and dry as a result.  It was my neighbor who took his time and spent his money to buy plywood and then board up all of my windows and doors.  Had he not protected my house, I would have sustained a great loss.  And the loss would have devastated my living situation and dwelling.

To my neighbor, thank you for your kindness!

I’d been with the company a few years, had gotten a promotion to a managerial position, but only got a very small salary bump with the new responsibilities which also came with increased work load.  My boss saw my disappointment. He then told me that I’d get a bigger increase when the next budget came through.  I was so excited and could not wait as I counted the days. My boss knew we had a newborn on the way and our expenses were tight.  

When the time came I received the increase in my paycheck, it made all the difference and my they told me that they couldn’t get it approved through corporate. My boss also shared in my joy and excitement as the added monies alleviated a huge financial burden.

A few years went by and my boss became closer to my family. My boss was very fatherly and became a mentor to me.  He was the father I never had because my dad left before I was born. I never knew my real dad.

About a few months ago, my boss passed away from a heart attack while he was at home.  It was a very sad day for many people.  I went about my daily routine with my job but missed my boss so much.  

The company owner came to me and offered me my bosses job and said it would come with a substantial raise. When I received my next paycheck, it was the same amount as what I had been receiving all along.  

And it was at that time that I realized that my boss was not able to get me a raise all of those years ago, but instead added to my paycheck out of his own pocket just to help me financially. I just sat down and cried from never knowing just how kind my boss was to me to make sure that I was able to raise my family.

I will never forget him.