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An Alabama Uber driver, Esbon Kamau, is expected to have a remarkable 2024 after he returned $8,000 in cash that a teenager, Alex Tisdale, had accidentally left in his vehicle. Kamau, who has been driving for Uber intermittently for four years and is a father of five, formed a connection with Tisdale during the ride.  After Tisdale exited the vehicle to attend to his business, Kamau continued his work, picking up and dropping off other clients. Upon discovering an unfamiliar item in his car and realizing it was money, he instinctively recognized it belonged to Tisdale. Without hesitation, he reported the find through the Uber app. Meanwhile, Tisdale realized he had left his belongings in the vehicle and also reported it on the app. The system efficiently connected them again, allowing Kamau to return Tisdale’s intact belongings. Tisdale was deeply impressed by Kamau’s honesty and kindness, ensuring that he left a generous tip for the driver. Reacting on the matter, Kamau stated, “When you do something good, it comes back tenfold.” In our quest for daily sustenance, may we remember to be graciously kind, and treat others, same way we expect to be treated.

It is evident that sometimes the Universe places people in strategic positions to allow them to share kindness and benevolence. Liam Stych leapt into action after hearing a woman scream, “Help me, help me, please save my baby!” A video captured the scene as the woman’s car was being dragged under a footbridge during severe flooding in Birmingham, England, following Storm Henk. Liam explained that while walking over the bridge, he heard the woman’s desperate cries. He noted that the front of her car was pointing down into the water, prompting him to dangle off the bridge, as he didn’t want to worsen the situation by adding his weight to the sinking vehicle. The 28-year-old recounted how he dangled off the bridge and smashed the rear passenger window of the car. He used ratchet straps to secure the Fiat to the bridge, preventing it from sinking further He instructed the woman to remain calm and to lower her window to hand him her child. Although she could only open the window halfway, he managed to grab the baby and “hurled her” into the arms of his pregnant partner, who was waiting on the bridge. After ensuring the baby was safe, Liam quickly ran to his work van to retrieve a set of 3.5-ton ratchet straps. He returned to the car, smashed the back passenger window, and secured the vehicle to the bridge to prevent it from drifting further. Liam then told the woman to climb into the back and exit through the window. She successfully managed to get out, and they held hands to jump into the water together after counting to three. He described the current as very strong but was able to drag her out of the water. West Midlands Police praised Liam as a hero, but the modest father of two insisted that he had simply acted on instinct. He reflected that if he hadn’t intervened, the car would have been dragged under the bridge, making it nearly impossible to rescue the occupants. It is truly unfortunate that the woman lost her car and shopping but if not for Liam’s swift and kind intervention, it could’ve been worse. May we never shy away from the responsibility of stretching out our hands in service to humanity every time there’s a need for such.

These bundles of joy could sometimes be bundles of sweet trouble too. It doesn’t matter how expert you are at calming your child, sometimes they are simply inconsolable; and parallel to that fact is another that as much an expert as you may be at calming your child, every so often you meet a person who is a master. That was the case for Mary-Ann Byrnes, 38, who was shopping at a Dollar Tree in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, when her two-year-old daughter, also named Mary-Ann, started to have a meltdown. Fortunately for the Mary-Anns, they were in the presence of such a master—the cashier, who was recorded picking up the youngster and instantly calming her down with an invitation to scan the items together. The cashier Fatimah Leftwich noticed that Mary-Ann was struggling and kindly asked the toddler if she wanted to help behind the counter. The little Mary-Ann immediately said yes. “She asked if it was cool for her to pick my daughter up and then helped her scan all of my items and even some of the people’s items behind me! “I saw a woman who had the ability to calm my daughter down with such a wonderful, trusting energy. It was amazing,” said her mother. As little as this gesture may look, its impact on the Mary-Anns is what tongue and pen can’t really tell. You may not be able to change the world on your own, but through acts of kindness, you can cast a stone into the water and create countless ripples. Just keep T.A.L.K.ing

Kentucky School Principal Jason Smith walked out of his office one day and saw a girl from the 6th grade sitting on a chair by the door—suspended for inappropriate behaviour during lunch. One can only imagine how much delinquency and mischief Smith had seen throughout his 14 years in charge of the school, but something about the girl struck him that day. Asking whether she thought such behaviour was acceptable at a restaurant, Raven Whitaker replied she had never been to one. Where she had been was in and out of foster homes for most of her life, where foster parents had made plenty of promises they were unable to keep. “At that point, I had felt like she just needed a hand, needed help,” Smith thought to himself. “I recognized that she needed something to go in her favour, maybe for once, that it hadn’t gone in her favor in the past, but she just needed somebody to help her.” After discussing it with his wife Marybeth, she believed there was something special about Raven. The couple had struggled with infertility for years, and had previously failed to turn foster children they’d hosted into candidates for adoption. After discussing the matter with Raven’s case worker in 2015, they heard that they too could foster her. They also talked with her personally about the matter. With their doors opened, Raven wasn’t sure it was going to turn out any differently; although she admitted to the fact that the welcome was immediately and detectably warmer than past homes. However, it wasn’t long before the love and sincerity of the couple won her over, and the three became an official family in October 2017. With a principal in the house, Raven improved her performance in school, graduating and moving forward to attend the University of Kentucky.

Virginia Davis, a 17-year-old student from Whitesboro, New York, faced challenges due to her hand deformity, lacking a thumb and having partial fingers on one hand. Recognizing her struggles, her technology instructor devised a remarkable solution. With ingenuity, he created a functional mechanical hand for her, costing only $30, a fraction of commercial alternatives priced up to $30,000. Davis’s gratitude towards her compassionate instructor knows no bounds, as his gesture greatly improved her daily life and tasks. His act of kindness not only demonstrates the power of innovation and resourcefulness but also highlights the importance of supportive educators who go above and beyond to help their students to overcome obstacles. Davis’ experience serves as a reminder of the impact a caring teacher can have on a student’s life, offering hope and practical solutions where there once seemed to be none. If we’re determined to be kind and firm in our resolve to help others, the noise of selfish interests will not cancel out the voice of empathy, no matter the situation.

After an elderly woman was discharged from the hospital and found she was unable to afford lawn care, two compassionate men stepped in to help. Rodney Smith Jr. and Terrence Stroy assured her that she wouldn’t have to worry about her yard anymore; they would mow it for free on a regular basis. Now, every two weeks, they visit her home to maintain her lawn and, more importantly, to remind her that she is valued and cared for. Rodney shared her story, noting that a neighbor had been charging her for lawn services, which she couldn’t afford due to her fixed income and recent hospital stay. “She mentioned how he pressured her for payment, but she can now rest easy knowing that Raising Men Lawn Care Service will take care of her lawn at no cost, just as we do for others in need,” Rodney wrote. “This allows her to allocate her limited funds toward essential needs like medication. We are truly making a difference!” For the sake of humanity, you can add meaning to the life of someone by doing the seemingly minute of kind deed, and trust me, the impact will most definitely be far reaching. Hold back nothing, spread kindness pattern-lessly, for no reason.

Mei Pop was driving home as a typhoon was approaching on the South Luzon Expressway in Laguna, Philippines, and as she was on her way, she realized that she did not have enough cash with her to cover the highway tolls for her exit. “While I was preoccupied by so many things and SL Expressway was almost zero visibility because of the typhoon, I forgot that I had to make a pit stop to get cash from an ATM at a gas station just before my exit at Southwood. “That’s after making a mental note that I had to do it since I only had [a few] bucks on me and I needed more to pay the toll fee. Rattled, I decided to go to the next and last gas station southbound, which was two exits away from where I was, only to find out from the gasoline boys, after briefly telling them about my problem, that no ATM machines were available there.” Mei parked her car and realized that she had no way to pay the toll in order to get home, so she tried calling her husband to see if there was a way he could come and help her. Yet as she was trying to get a hold of him, sensing the distress that was written all over her, one of the employees at the gas station walked over and knocked on her window. Upon rolling the window down, she saw that he was handing over a few bucks and said that he and the others chipped in order to help her and that they were hoping that the money was enough for her to take the next exit and look for an ATM machine  “I was so moved by their kindness, knowing that the money could’ve easily been a big portion of their very limited allowance for the night. Tearing up, I told him that I will get cash and bring their money back right away”. But they unanimously declined the offer. “I didn’t know what else to say. I felt like thank you will never be enough for the kind of compassion they extended towards a stranger like me.” “After finally being able to get money, I went back to Caltex as promised. They didn’t want the money back, but I insisted. I tried to offer a little extra too, but they said that they helped me without expecting anything in return. I was simply floored at how amazing these people are! Thank you again, Shaun, Joel, Orly and Rendel! All of you are living testaments that there indeed is hope for humankind. There should be more people like you! I can never thank you enough. Ever.” . It could be something as simple as sharing a smile, it could be a listening ear, a kind response. It will certainly fill their heart, and it will likely fill yours as well. Let’s seize every opportunity to inspire belief in the goodness of humanity.

Meri is a sweet 70-year-old Grandma, and due to some difficult family circumstances she is raising her two grandchildren ages 7 and 13. A while ago the timing chain on her car broke, and the car’s engine spoilt beyond repair. Unable to continue driving, her only option with her grandchildren has been to try and get a ride or to walk with the girls to school, the grocery store, to their counseling appointments and to other activities. Her 7-year-old wasn’t feeling well recently, and Meri ended up walking to the store at 11pm at night in order to get her some 7-Up to try and help her feel better. Meri is widowed and living on a limited income, and she has spent much of her life volunteering and helping others, especially younger people. Over the years, her kindness and service have been recognized by her community through many awards. Through her volunteerism she previously received the Idaho Falls Citizen of the Year Award, Eight Who Make A Difference, Grand Marshall of the 4th of July parade and the JC Penney Golden Rule award. Her big heart has always seemed to help and be there for others. A kind stranger learned of Meri’s car situation and how her and her grandchildren were now walking everywhere, so they bought her a brand-new Honda CRV and let East Idaho News deliver it to her during their Secret Santa Special. As they handed Meri her surprise present with the car keys inside, she held back tears. Meri’s voice had a tender sadness when sharing that story, as she may have felt guilty she was not able to drive her granddaughter where she needed to go anymore. But thanks to the kindness and generosity of a stranger, and the beauty when God’s timing intercepts the love of kindhearted humans. Meri and her grandchildren will now be able to safely get anywhere they need.

The homeless often struggle to meet their most basic needs: food and water. It’s easy for many of us to take these essentials for granted, forgetting that some wonderful individuals around us wake up and go to sleep hungry and thirsty. One such person, Polly, entered a fast-food restaurant and asked for just a cup of water. However, the compassionate stranger behind her in line ensured she received much more. “My night took an unexpected turn,” the stranger recounted. “After finishing my evening out, I found myself in the McDonald’s queue. I noticed the woman in front of me, who simply asked for a cup of hot water. To my disbelief, the staff member told her no. It was heartbreaking to see a clearly homeless woman denied such a basic human right by a multi-billion-pound company.”Feeling moved to intervene; the stranger approached Polly and asked her to order whatever she wanted. To their surprise, she only requested a single cheeseburger. Determined to ensure she wouldn’t go hungry, the stranger ordered as much food as they could carry.         “I couldn’t just leave her there,” he said. “She was so warm and lovely. So, I sat with her on the cold floor in the middle of winter and cried. It was disheartening to see people walk by, laughing instead of offering help. If you’re reading this and you’ve ever walked past someone in need, I want you to reflect on that”. As they spoke, the stranger was taken aback by Polly’s story and her intelligence. Despite having so little, she was full of life and enthusiasm. The stranger invited Polly and her mate to their home, where they cooked enough food to last them for several nights and packed it into bags. Afterward, Polly and her friend enjoyed showers and brushed their teeth, expressing that they had never felt so appreciated in their lives. “I’m no saint,” the stranger admitted, “but this small act of kindness cost me about £20. I know that many people earn ten times that in a day”. The stranger stayed in touch with Polly, promising her that she would never go hungry or cold again and even provided her with blankets, pillows, and a backpack full of food. If you see someone on the streets, don’t look down on them as if they’re nothing. You don’t know their story. If you encounter someone who appears hungry or thirsty, consider being a hero of compassion. Your small act of kindness can make a huge difference in another person’s life. If you can’t spare a coin or an act of kindness, at least remember to spare a little kind thought!