The Guardian publishes a “kindness of strangers” series that I really like.
This particular story, short and sweet, about a stranger dropping $2 into a coin-operated ride to make a mother’s children happy, is such a great example of the power of kindness.
It was a beautiful act of kindness in the moment, but in the words of the author, acts of kindness often echo through the years:
“My children are 15 and 13 now, and I still think about this often. When I was feeling utterly worn out, a stranger came along to give my kids joy – and give me a break.”
More than a decade later, she’s still thinking about that stranger and his small, kind, inspiring act of generosity.
It’s still bringing her joy today.
Little does that stranger know what he did and how far-reaching his actions have been. He likely doesn’t even remember dropping his spare change into those coin-operated animals. Those children don’t remember that moment, either.
But a decade later, a mother remembers. And it still fills her heart with gratitude.
You can never know how a kind word, gesture, or small offering can make a difference in someone’s life, or how long that act of kindness might echo into the future, but that should not stop us. We must act with kindness, knowing that sometimes, our kindness will continue to lift someone long after we have moved on and forgotten it entirely.
We must trust that we are making a difference, even when we can’t ever see that difference.
It seemed like a good message for folks on this Easter morning.
