Although the world has its disappointments, acts of strangers help restore our faith.
We become less skeptical and wary as a result, and we appreciate the value of kindness.
Help by strangers
A stranger gave me access to his mobile hot-spot to enable me order a Lyft when I was stranded at Phoenix Zoo in Arizona a few years ago. There was no WiFi at the zoo and I didn’t have a sim card. Thus, it was difficult to get back to the hotel. His help was such a relief and it reminded me that there were good people out there.
Another incident happened during my student days many years ago. I was running late for an examination. The problem was how to get transportation from my home to my institute. I stood by the roadside for quite a while and no transport was forthcoming. Fortunately, a lady who probably noticed the frantic look on my face stopped by me and asked me where I was going. When I responded, she said that she was heading towards that area. By God’s grace she drove me to a walking distance to my institute and I made it to the examination room on time. To this day, I believe that she was an angel that God sent to help me.
Yet another incident was when I was stranded in Dakar, Senegal as the airline cancelled my flight at the last minute. One of the airport staff introduced me to his brother who drove me free of charge to a much cheaper accommodation. I could not afford to stay at my original hotel as that was expensive. My funds were limited and I had to stretch them to cover the few days in Dakar till the next rescheduled flight. The way he went the extra mile to help me really impressed me.
These and other similar experiences have made a profound impact on me. As a result, I realise that we have to show kindness and empathy to others as our good deed, no matter how small, can make a huge difference in other people’s lives.
Help given to Strangers
Some years ago, I gave a lady who really needed transportation a lift to her destination. I remembered that someone had given me a lift in the past. I initially panicked when she said that she was going to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital as I feared that she would harm me. In the end, she rather educated me about post-natal depression and mental health in general.
In another instance, a young man hit the rear end of my car in traffic a few weeks ago. He was apparently too close to me and distracted. He apologised profusely and launched into a narrative of being unemployed. That was obviously an indirect way of indicating that he didn’t have any money to fix the small dent at the rear of my car. I decided to be empathetic and to let him off the hook. It was just a small dent after all.
In conclusion, life is full of twists and turns. You never know what somebody is going through. Sometimes it just takes a kind word to lift someone up. Other times, a small deed of kindness can go a long way. Generosity is not always about giving money away. There are various forms of kindness. Let us strive to brighten the corner where we are by engaging in a deed of kindness today.
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