4 times kindness made someone's day

4 times kindness made someone's day

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SALT LAKE CITY — Was there ever a time when you needed a helping hand and suddenly, someone appeared to help?

Recently, something happened to me when I was sick and in pain. My husband was in a meeting at work but it was the only time the doctor's office could fit me in, so I drove myself. As I sat in my appointment, was overcome by nausea and realized I couldn't safely drive back home. We only have one car and it was stuck in the parking lot, so I sent a text message to a friend. She dropped what she was doing and picked me up after my appointment. As I crawled into her car, she listened to me complain about how uncomfortable I was, then made me laugh when I wanted to cry. After dropping me off at home, she took my husband back for the car.

Her small service reminded me that people are willing to help much more often than we give them opportunity. I know it only took her an hour and a little bit of gas to run back and forth for me, but her kindhearted actions made me more grateful for the good people in my life and inspired me to look for opportunities to give — and receive — service more often.

Each week, readers share stories like this with us — stories that inspired or touched them. If you've experienced something similar, share your story.

A stranger in Nowhere, Idaho:

Mary W.

"Recently my mom was driving to Yellowstone. Just across the Utah/Idaho border on I-15, her wheel came flying off. She is 66, lives alone, and was stranded on the side of the freeway in nowhere Idaho.

Share your story:
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 crosenlof@ksl.com.

"A trucker stopped to help her, gave her a ride to the nearest truck stop, helped her get a tow truck, waited with her until the tow truck came and called my sister for her. Later he even called my sister to make sure my mom had made it home OK. In a scary world, here was an angel looking out for my mom."

On stopping when you could keep walking:

Jeanette P.

"Helping my husband out of a medical procedure on few weeks ago in Orem, I was in a predicament. My husband, still woozy from the medicine, could not walk down a small set of stairs. I asked him to hold on to the railing while I got the car.

"A woman named Denise walked past us and came back to ask if we needed help. I gave her the car keys and she pulled the car around. I thanked her for her help. I asked her if she worked at the clinic. She replied no, but that she'd been in similar situations. I was grateful she didn't just keep on walking, and acted on what was a very real need for help."

On celebrating with strangers:

Dan C.

"Monday, July 6 my wife and I were celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary with a dinner at the Layton Outback restaurant.

"When we ordered, my wife mentioned to the waitress it was our anniversary and apparently the man in the booth next to ours over heard the conversation.

Related:

"After we ate our meal and dessert, the waitress brought the check. When she opened the little book, it had a blank reciept in it with the words 'Happy Anniversary' and a smiley face.

"The waitress then informed us that the man in the booth next us (who left 10 minutes earlier) had paid for our entire check. Can you imagine our surprise and gratitude for the kindness and generosity of this stranger?

"His kindness couldn't have come at a better time. A few days earlier, we had just sent off a missionary son and our other son is expecting a call this week. This stranger's generosity was greatly appreciated, whoever he was."

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 crosenlof@ksl.com.

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Celeste Tholen Rosenlof

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