26 Random Acts of Kindness

Today I went through the drive-through at our local McDonald’s for a strawberry shake, because I love McDonald’s strawberry shakes, in all their artificial glory.

There was a young man in a junky car behind me, and I decided to pay for his order, as well. Turns out (according to the receipt) he was picking up four Happy Meals and one adult meal. I remember the days when a trip to McDonald’s for me and my kids was something I actually had to think about, something that wasn’t done on a whim but had to be planned out in the weekly budget.

I hope they enjoy the treat as much as I enjoyed providing it.

We got about three inches of snow last night, which makes for a nice, white Christmas, and this morning, my husband shoveled our drive and sidewalk before the sun came up.

So I went and shoveled both our neighbors’ sidewalks and drives before they had a chance to get up and do it themselves.

Yesterday I took my mother to the doctor. Her clinic has a large number of Medicare patients, and it’s not at all unusual to see seniors using wheelchairs, walkers, and other tools to get around.

After we were done, I went to bring the car around so Mom wouldn’t have to walk through the parking lot, and I saw an old man with a cane and an oxygen tank shuffling towards his vehicle, and it was obvious that he was struggling. I approached him and asked him if I might assist him in some way? He was panting with the effort of walking, and allowed that if he could put his hand on my shoulder for balance until he could get to his car, he’d appreciate it.

I wonder how many times I’ve just walked by people who might have benefited from the opportunity to place their hand on my shoulder because I was too busy, too distracted, too wrapped up in my own life to see that they needed my help?

I can do better.

Yesterday my adult daughter had an accident on snowy and slick roads. She lost control of her vehicle, slid front end first into a decorative light post, and ended up on the sidewalk. Thankfully, she was not hurt, although the car’s in pretty bad shape.

While she was waiting for the police to arrive and making phone calls to the various people who needed to be notified, she said that over ten people stopped with offers of help, some on foot, and some in their own vehicles.

Thank you, anonymous strangers, for looking out for my baby girl.