SALT LAKE CITY — Some people naturally have generous hearts. Others have to work on that particular virtue.

But in the moment you give to another person, your heart is filled with generosity — just like those who have it naturally.

Each week, readers share stories of generosity and kindness and the ways in which it touched their lives. This week, people's generosity spanned from paying for groceries to giving a smile and a hug.

On feeding a family:

Brad A.

"Earlier this year, my wife and I went grocery shopping. This would be our first full grocery trip since our third child had been born a few weeks earlier. We were out of pretty much everything and we quickly discovered how crazy grocery shopping can be with three kids! When we got to the checkstand and started loading up the conveyor belt, I realized we might need another cart for the bagged groceries so I left my wife there with the kids while I went to get one.

"On my way back, as my wife was distracted, loading the bagged groceries I noticed the man in line behind us swiping his card. He had just paid for all of our groceries! I shook his hand and thanked him. He told me he has 10 kids (four are currently serving LDS missions). I felt like I should be the one paying for his groceries.

"Of course I never saw the total but I figured it was easily $200-$300. This man's act of generous service was quite humbling and has now left us looking for a way to pay it forward.

"I snapped a photo of our full shopping cart so I wouldn't forget but I don't know how I ever could!"

On paying it forward:

Mike H.

"On April 13th, I was out to dinner at Applebee's with my mom, sister, her baby and my three kids. My sister was leaving soon to go back to Delaware. When we received our meal, the manager came over and said that our meal had been taken care of. The person who did it had asked to wait to tell us until after they had left. It was such a great blessing to know that there are awesome people out there. We just wish we had the chance to say thank you and we are excited to pay it forward."

On a stranger filling in for a friend:

Jenny H.

"I was a few years into living in a new town and it had been a struggle. I didn't have any family there so I put a lot of energy into making friends. However, I just wasn't having any luck connecting with anyone. I would get attached to people who weren't right for me, only to lose them later over what always seemed to be petty differences. Needless to say it took its toll on me.

"I started losing myself, blaming myself, and hating myself. One day while feeling down I told myself to keep my head up and just keep smiling. So I started to smile at everyone who crossed my path, but for some reason that day no one was smiling back. I started feeling disgusted with myself and ended up in a public bathroom crying on the toilet. When I pulled myself together and came out of the stall a woman walked in, smiled, and said hi. Holding back tears I said thank you. When she looked at me puzzled I told her that that's what I've needed all day, a smile.

"Without hesitation she wrapped her arms around me, gave me a huge hug, and allowed me to cry on her shoulder for a minute, then told me to hang in there. I will never forget that moment and how her simple act of kindness renewed my faith in humanity and myself."

The effect of kindness:

Christian S.

"I went to McDonald's for breakfast recently, when I pulled up to the window to pay and they said it was taken care of by the lady ahead of me.

"I was elated by this and in turn paid for the car behind me. I asked the cashier to tell him to pay it forward. It’s amazing what an effect a little kindness can have."

Have you seen any moments of service or kindness? Do you want to share a story about something that made your day? Email a brief story (100 words or fewer) along with any photos or video to [](mailto:crosenlof@ksl.comcrosenlof@ksl.com.

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