Early one morning, I headed to the DMV to surrender the plates of my old car. I was first in line when the doors opened and walked in feeling good.
The man behind me pushed ahead, and I decided not to say anything, figuring it wasn’t worth the trouble. If he was in that much of a hurry, he could ‘cut the line.’
When I was called to the counter, I slid my plates under the divider. The clerk said, "That will be one dollar, please. Cash only."
I searched through my handbag and wallet, but there was absolutely no cash. Nothing! I explained my situation, and she kindly offered to hold my place in line if I wanted to check my car for change.
To my disappointment, there was no money in the car either—not a dime.
A bit bummed, I got back in my car and headed out of the parking lot. There was a short line of cars waiting to exit. When I pulled up to the booth, the attendant asked if I’d had a good experience at the DMV.
I told her I had, but I was frustrated with myself for not having even a dollar on me.
Then she did something I didn’t expect. She opened her handbag, took out a dollar, and handed it to me. "Here’s a dollar for you. Please go back in there and finish what you started," she said. "I know what it’s like when you have a lot to do."
I thanked her and offered to pay her back, but she refused.
She was simply kind, just to be kind. She wanted to help me regain a little freedom that day, and her generosity made a lasting impact on me.
"Being kind to a stranger can change the atmosphere. It does not take much to reach out and do something nice for someone you don't know. To do this without expectation of acknowledgement or reward. Just to be one human helping another."
A Scripture Share
Be Kind and Compassionate to one another.
Forgive each other (and don't hold things against one another.)
Ephesians 4:32
An Important Mantra
The Buddhist loving-kindness meditation reminds us that all deserve happiness and freedom. No matter how they look. What their choices are. Where they come from.
“May you be happy; may you be free of mental and physical suffering; may you live with ease."
I want to pay it forward and encourage us all to be kind without the need for acknowledgement or reward.
Kindness of a Stranger
