Kindness is one of those personal character that often feels small when we practice it but yet it can have effects far greater than we imagine. Sometimes it is just a word, a smile, or an act of helping hand, but it leaves a mark that lasts in the life of someone.
I went to a nearby shop to buy some groceries. While I was waiting to pay for the things I bought, I noticed an elderly man also standing there with a few items in his hands and for some reason, I felt the urge to pay for the things he bought. I told the shopkeeper that I would pay for his items along with mine. It was not a big purchase though and I honestly did not see it as anything special. To me, it was just a simple gesture to support someone older.
What I did not know was that this little act planted a seed in his heart. Some days later, I came across one of his daughters, and during our conversation, she mentioned that her father had been talking about me at home and how deeply touched he was by my action. According to her, he said it had been a very long time since a young person had offered to pay for his things. That simple gesture gave him joy, and it stayed with him in a way I had not imagined.
From that time till now each time he saw me, he would stop to greet me and express his appreciation again. Over time, he started treating me like his own child. Someone I barely knew at first gradually turned into a fatherly figure in my life. What made it even more surprising was that he did not just keep the experience within his family, he also carried it into the community.
Not long ago, there was a need in church to appoint someone who would oversee an important task and manage a project that was ongoing. When discussions came up about who should be given the responsibility, this elderly man immediately spoke up and recommended me to everyone. He told them I was capable and trustworthy, and because of his strong words, I was chosen for the role. It was in that moment I realized the full circle of kindness. The little act I thought was nothing had opened a door of opportunity and trust for me.
It is always good to be kind. We may think we are just doing something small, but the people we touch carry that memory in their hearts. Sometimes, the kindness we show returns to us in unexpected ways. It may come in the form of appreciation, opportunities, or simply in the bond of new relationships. We may not always see the immediate result of kindness, but the impact goes further than we can imagine.
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