Thursday, May 26, 2016

Small acts of kindness add up to a big thing

It's been awhile since writing on this blog. I have had many thoughts, but was sorta waiting for the new bus transfer station to open.

Well, I was at the new transfer station with about a 15 minute wait for my bus. At the time there was only me and a few other guys inside... most were outside as it was a nice spring day.

A gentlemen was looking around seeming somewhat bewildered. The ticket purchase people were on lunch break so he went over to look at the automated ticket purchase machine.

He pressed some of the buttons to see the options for buying a ticket. I asked him what he needed. He said just one ticket. He then asked me if I knew the area. "What are you wanting to do," I asked. He said get to Greyhound and asked "Do you know how to get there?" I said you need to take the northeast bus, line 2, to Walmart and then I think there is a direct line that goes back and forth on Kearney. You would need to hop over to that one from Walmart.

I went to the map rack and pulled a route map for that line which I was not personally acquainted with. It runs three times in the morning and three times in the afternoon I noted. He said getting to Walmart would be good enough, "I can walk the rest of the way," he said. "Is the fare $1.25," he then asked. Well, "yes," I said, "but you would need a dime for a transfer" if you choose to try to catch line 35, the Industrial Express. Getting to Walmart is good enough he responded. Then with a dollar in hand he asked, "Does this machine give change?" No, I don't think it does. I reached in my pocket. I had three quarters, so I gave him one. "Here's a quarter, welcome to Springfield," I added.

I woke up this morning thinking about this. I got more satisfaction in my day for helping this man than anything else that day. He needed some help and I decided to do what I could to help him.

Lesson learned. What is a big thing are the kind small things we do for others when nobody's watching.

On the bus, there's a quiet, meek lady who does kind things for people all the time. I have noticed many bus drivers do small nice things for their passengers. It's everyone doing this on a regular basis, without fanfare, that makes it a great world to live in

In a way, I find greater satisfaction to help someone in a small way. To be unknown in what I do. To live each day with this in mind, means more to me than having my name on a big building. I really like the lifestyle of being unknown, but doing nice things when I get a chance.

Well, that day I was boarding line 2, too. I walked by this man as I was getting to a seat. He acknowledged me in a way that indicated he appreciated what I did. 

I believe being nice, and doing kind things, when no one else will know, is recorded in a book in Heaven. My one hesitation for sharing this is since telling this, I may have taken away my reward. As the Scriptures say we are blessed when we give in secret. I didn't keep it a secret... just told you.  
Maybe though by sharing some small acts of kindness we may encourage others that it's a good thing to do nice things when no one's looking, or we think no one's looking. It encourages others to do the same.

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