Three years ago, around Christmas time, I was shopping in Walmart. When I went to check out, there was a woman in front of me. She had two small children with her. Ages around 3 and 5 years old. The children were so well-mannered. I could tell that she was nervous, standing there holding her money envelope from the bank, ever so tightly. She was dressed in an outfit that looked as if she had worn it 100 times. The children also looked as if they were dressed in hand-me-down clothes that appeared as if they had clothed several children before they landed in the laps of these two precious human beings. She very politely asked the cashier, how much money she had spent so far? He mumbled a dollar amount and she abruptly told him to stop checking her out because she had only so much money to spend. Then she started trying to select items in her shopping cart to put back, because she had spent over her limit for the shopping she had done. I was watching her and took note of her grave situation. It was then that I got a huge lump in my throat, and a tear slid down my cheek. I wiped it away very quickly before she took notice of my watering eyes. The two children asked their Mother if they could still get some candy from the rack of goodies at the checkout counter. She told them no, and the disappointment on their faces was too much for me to handle. I spoke up at that point, and I asked the cashier to kindly check out the items that she had taken out of her cart. She looked at me with embarrassment in her eyes. I then told her, that it was Christmas time and that I wanted to purchase her items as a gift to her and those wide eyed children. She said, ‘Mam. Thank you, but I won't be able to pay you back. I told her that I did not want her money. What I did want was for her to go and collect any items in the store that she needed. She asked me if it was OK to get more diapers and food. I responded to her, to finish checking out the items that she had. When the cashier was done checking her out, I reached into my purse to get my wallet. I paid for her purchases. It was then that I noticed that the two strangers that were behind me in line, had tears running down their faces. I introduced myself to the woman that had stolen my heart. Her name was Marie. I said to her, “I will stay here and watch your cart full of items” “Get another cart and go back into the store and get whatever else that you need. She did just that and we checked her out once again. I told the children to pick out the items that they had their eyes locked on. They politely thanked me. When all was said and done, Marie and I embraced one another. She thanked me ever so much for what I had done. I then watched them exit the Store. It was at that moment that I knew what Christmas was really about. I have never forgotten that day.
---Lea Anne Rutledge, Winston-Salem, USA-NC


I was driving down a road when I passed a man with a lawnmower trying to cut down a yard that had overgrown a little bit. He looked elderly and a little frail, it was a hot day and it was a large yard. As I had passed by and got caught by a red light he went and sat down on his porch. I pulled over into the driveway, waved and walked over to the mower. As I was starting it up he came running over telling me to stop, but I smiled and briefly explained cutting the grass was always my chore at our house growing up. It wasn’t that I enjoyed doing it, it was that I enjoyed doing it to save my Dad from doing it! I told him he reminded me of my Dad and it would be my honor to do it for him. He was bewildered that this middle aged lady was going to mow his yard. I finished it and it was hard —- it was hot outside, I was not dressed for this and I was definitely out of shape! But it was a joy to do. When I was done and brought the mower around to the driveway, he’d brought me out a Coke and we sat and talked for about an hour after that. I stopped by a few more times just to say hi and talk before we left and moved out of state. I wish I’d had done more for him and spent more visits with him, but it felt good to have met and helped him that day.
---Bevysubu Balog, USA-FL


I made someone dinner every night for months and never knew his name. He was grateful for it and always thanked me. He had no family come to see him, and he would sit in the lobby and always looked lonely. So I would stop and talk to him and then I started taking him a plate of dinner every night.
I found out he had family but, they never came to see him; that he had a heart attack and three strokes and that he asked God a couple times to just take him. He felt worthless. His speech, it took him awhile to get the words out, but I listened. He got where he’d smile and was happy to see me. He said, he shouldn't be expecting the dinner but, he had came to praying I’d show up with it and sometimes I was late, but I always made sure he got it. Sometimes if he wasnt in the lobby, I would leave the plate and drink on a table, he would always get it. He always brought the cup and his fork and put it at my door and I would get it the next morning, never failed. One evening I had seen him and we talked, he was emotional and trying to tell me how much he appreciated what I had done for him. I told him you dont have to tell me this, I know you appreciate it. I just wanted to help and you know Im gonna look out for you. I think you're a good man and I patted him on his shoulder and went on.
I had taken him some seafood and put it on the table.The next day no cup or fork and it was left where I had put the food earlier. Container was gone but the cup empty and the fork sitting there. I immediately knew something wasn't right, because he always left that in front of my door. When I had talked with him earlier he told me he loved me for looking out for him.
It bothered me that he was so emotional. I found out he had had another stroke and was in the hospital ICU and now in a rehab facility and his family has notified the office he won't be returning.
He was going in a nursing home. I know his name now and will go and see him.
I just want him to know, I do care about him and I wont forget all the talks we had.
I heard he can't talk now but, I need to see for myself.
You never know, what a person maybe going thru and dealing with in life. If you can make a difference in someones life in a small way, do it.
---Tammy Addler, Summerville, USA-SC


When I was traveling to Macau for the first time, I didn't realize that my hotel booking was out of border. That was located in China and I do not have the right or even power or I can say credentials so I can access China. It was almost 10 o'clock in the evening and their Airport representatives are mostly Chinese so the can not understand English. I was inquiring the address and the person I asked referred me to a counter with Chinese teller. So, I ask a Filipino with a baby with her and without hesitant she told me to go along with them. I was super duper blessed!
She told me the airport is prohibiting any person to sleep and must be closed at 10 o' clock. She let me sleep in their flat. And the next day she arranged for a me a room to stay for my tourist. Then she even dropped me to airport. She's a working mom. She's so busy but find ways to be with me.
---Liace Amarillo, Cebu City, Philippines