Acts of Kindness Too

Today it’s my pleasure to post the second installment in the Acts of Kindness series.

In July I received a phone call from a woman who had found my son’s wallet and wanted to be sure we got it back intact. After posting about it on FB, people started telling me their own stories of acts of kindness they’ve experienced. I knew these stories needed to be told. So I asked for submissions and got so many I had to break them out into three separate posts. This is the second one. If you missed the first one, it’s here: Acts of Kindness Series.

Here are more of the stories submitted to me. Again, in their own words:

~In December of 2009 my father passed away. I flew to California to be with him, only hours before he passed, and was alone the entire three days in LA taking care of his burial details. I am a country girl, raised in an extremely small town, so this was a horrifying experience for me being alone in the city, especially dealing with my dad’s passing. On my last flight back to Savannah, it was late, and a very small plane. The stewardess came through with the beverage cart and there was a man sitting a few seats in front of me who asked for a beer. He was unable to get one because they only accepted credit cards and he apparently only had cash. At this point, beer sounded pretty darn good to me, so when she go to me I ordered one and asked her to give the man a beer too. She kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to do that and I told her most definitely. She gave the man his beer, told him it was from me and he then attempted to give me cash. I refused his cash, of course, and just told him to enjoy his beer.
Our plane landed and when I got off the man was standing waiting for me. He, once again, attempted to pay me. I again refused. I explained to him that my father had just passed away and I felt that it would have been something he would do, so not to worry about it. Now mind you, this man was older, it was two days before Christmas and, I kid you not, he looked like Santa Clause! He explained to me that his mother had just passed away and he was traveling to Savannah to take care of the funeral arrangements. We exchanged “I’m sorries”, and he one last time tried to pay for his beer. I told him no, just to take care and be safe. He asked me if I had children and I replied yes. He then told me if I wouldn’t take the money for the beer then to get my kids something for Christmas from him and slid something into the pocket of my carry-on and walked away.
A friend of mine was waiting to pick me up at the airport and I proceeded to tell him the story of the man that looked like Santa and the beer. He was like, what did he give you? I said I didn’t know, I hadn’t looked. He was eager to know so I reached into my carry-on and grabbed out what the man had given me. It was a $100 bill. My mouth hit the floor! Of course I could not accept this gift! $100 for an overpriced $8 beer on the plane?!? No way. Well, as late as it was, the airport was pretty empty. I was standing at the baggage claim and looked everywhere for this man. He literally vanished! Needless to say the kids got a very special present from “Santa” for Christmas and, in tradition, they get a special gift from him every year now.

Shelley Jackson

~My husband was home for R&R during his 2nd deployment. We went out to this little restaurant to enjoy his last night before he was to be sent back. A couple was sitting beside us and were talking about our kids and just enjoying talking to them. Asked my husband if he was military. It’s a big military town where we were at the time and he said “yes I’m home for R&R, I go back tomorrow”. We all ate and talked and then we asked for our check. The waitress came and said it was already paid for. And the couple said they paid for it. They told us to enjoy his last night and they wanted to thank him for his service. It was really nice that they did that.

Cassandra Meadows writes @ Dates 2 Diapers

Chocolate Confetti Cheesecake Bars

~When my Son was about 6 months old, I went to a different Walmart than usual to pick up some formula. When I got to the register, they told me that they didn’t accept WIC there. Seeing as I didn’t have enough cash to cover it, I was going to put it back and leave. The lady behind me in line said “Let me pay for it”. I said that I couldn’t possibly let her do that because it was too much money. She said “you need it, right? I want to buy it for you. Just pass the favor on to someone else someday.” And she bought me $60 worth of formula. I actually cried in the middle of the store, I couldn’t believe how kind she was!!

Tasha writes @ Patience Juice

~After finding out a woman who had recently lost her husband at 42 with no life insurance needed her electric bill paid, I did it because I have been very blessed. I did not identify myself and I received a peace that is so hard to explain. Random acts can be just a smile or a hand up but I believe you receive more than they do. I hope everyone will try it. How wonderful our lives would be!

Author wishes to remain anonymous

As with the last post I want to mention what a pleasure it’s been to collect and publish these stories.

Chocolate Confetti Cheesecake Bars

                                                                        
©www.BakingInATornado.com

                                                

Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, melted
1 ¾ cups flour
1 cup sugar
¼ cup baking cocoa
½ cup toffee bits
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2TBSP multicolored nonpareils
2 TBSP multicolored sprinkles
 
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 X 13 baking pan.
*Mix butter, flour, sugar cocoa until well blended. Add the toffee bits. Your mixture will be dry and crumbly.
*Press 3/4 of this mixture into the prepared pan. Use a little more if you need to, but make sure you have a good bottom crust. Set the rest of the mixture aside.
*Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool.
*Beat the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, egg and vanilla. Carefully swirl in the sprinkles and nonpareils. Swirl in only twice or it will change the whole color of the batter instead of swirling into the batter. Pour over cooled crust.
*Sprinkle with the other half of the crust mixture.
*Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center is set.
*Cool before cutting. Store in the fridge.