The random act of kindness is the most rewarding experience that one can have aside from a child being born or possibly a wedding day. I have show this generosity on many occasions and am not writing this to toot my own horn but instead to inspire someone else to show the same compassion to another human being. Here are a few examples that I have either performed myself or have heard about others performing.

I was sitting in an IHOP eating my stack of pancakes when I over heard one of the waitress' talking about how her son was sick and she didn't know how she was going to pay for the medical bills. She seemed like a nice girl who was down on her luck so I asked my waitress if she would mind if the girl in need could wait on me. She smiled at me and said that she would ask her if she would mind switching tables with her. The waitress in need walked over and I asked her about her son. She told me her story and asked if I needed anything else. I shook my head no and asked for my check. When she laid it on the table I waited for her to walk away. I then took all the money out of my pocket and put it on the table. It couldn't have been more than $500 but I knew that it would help. I then paid my bill with my debit card and left. I didn't wait to see the look on her face but I know that she must have been ecstatic.

While I was stationed in San Antonio I saw a man sitting on the sidewalk holding a sign that said "Will work for food". I saw many people walk by him. Some of them tossed quarters at his feet, some ignored him, and some even chastised him for begging. I walked into a restaurant and bought a complete meal. It was a whole chicken with a bucket of mashed potatoes and a side of corn. I gave it to the man and handed him $50. He thanked me and asked if there was anything that he could do to repay my kindness. I smiled politely and shook my head no. His eyes were filled with gratitude.

I heard of a woman in a store who while checking out offered to pay for everything that the person in front of her had. That person then took that money and did something good for someone else and so on and so forth.

I don't know if the people I helped ended up helping anyone else but I would like to think that maybe they did. I wish more people would take the time and effort to show this kind of generosity to others. The world would be a much better place if we all just helped out in anyway that we could. I try my best to do this but at the moment like many other I am flat broke. I still take the time to help anyone that I can. It can be something that is a simple as helping a stranger with an arm load of groceries. I hope that this gives someone the spirit of giving or at the very least the spirit of helping.