The Kindness of a Stranger

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"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

--- Mark Twain

The most joyous season of the year in our house is Christmas. All the family gets together, gifts are exchanged and we give thanks for all that we have. This Christmas however, was one that I will never forget. If it weren't for the help of a stranger coming to my rescue, my holidays would have been ruined. He reminded me that a little kindness really does go along way.

It was three days before Christmas, snowing outside and the hustle and bustle of the holidays was in the air. Before leaving work for the holiday's, I remembered I needed to stop at the grocery store to buy some last minute goodies for our guests. With the temperature so cold out, I decided to warm up my car a little before leaving. However, I work in a not so nice part of town where an unattended car might be stolen. So to avoid this, I left the car running but took the door key off the key chain and locked the doors. When I returned to my warm car to leave, I just threw the door key in the middle compartment of the dash, instead of putting it back on the key chain where it belonged.

First, I went to pick up my stepson from the day care. To make sure he stayed warm I decided to let the car run while I ran inside to get him. Being just a quick run inside, I decided to leave the car unlocked. After returning to the vehicle, I strapped him to his car seat and then we proceeded to the grocery store. I kept running through my mind all the things that I needed to buy. Being a little preoccupied with all the traffic and not paying attention, I passed the grocery store and had to turn around and go back.

When I got ...

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...e gas station man handed me a little black box. He told me to get a spare key made and put it into that box. It was magnetized on one side so that it would cling to the outside of the vehicle under the wheel well in case this ever happened again. I thanked them both again for their kind gestures. The man from the grocery store replied "no big deal, think of it as a Christmas present from me to you."

If it wasn't for the help of those two men, I don't know what I would have done. I'm so glad there are still a few people left in this world who care enough to stop and help a perfect stranger. For Christmas prayer, I was most thankful that I had my stepson to share the coming year. Next time you see someone that is in need of a little assistance, don't be afraid to lend a helping hand. A little kindness goes a long way.

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