If anything good has come out of this pandemic it is some of the unexpected acts of kindness we’ve read or heard about on the news from one stranger to another. They are far too numerous to mention but it did get me thinking about acts of kindness I’ve been on the receiving end during my lifetime, and the following has to be one of the most standout ones I’ve received.
Years ago I was on holiday with my wife in Cyprus, and, as is normally the case, we got to talk to various people on a regular basis.
One particular couple were a father and daughter from the same part of the country as us, we shared a table for a meal a couple of times and most evenings we had a drink and a chat in the bar of the hotel.
They were returning home the week before us so we met for a last couple of drinks at lunchtime and to wish them farewell, while we were sitting there enjoying the drinks and chat my wife received a phone call from her sister informing her of the sad news that her father had unexpectedly passed away.
As you can imagine the news was devastating and I wished the couple all the best and said that I was going to comfort my wife as best as I could and then I was going to see if I could arrange flights back to the UK so that she could be with her family.
We exchanged phone numbers and they then departed for their flight back home, about an hour later a text message came through to me and it was from the daughter texting from the airport and the contents were totally unexpected, it was an offer to pay for both of our flights back to the UK and to let them know the cost.
As you can imagine it was a lovely offer from two people we barely knew, and while it was a fantastic gesture I messaged back thanking them for their huge kindness but we couldn’t accept it.
We did manage to get flights back the next day and from that day on we were firm friends with the couple, I’ve stayed friends with them even after my wife passed away and still meet them occasionally for catch up.
I will never forget that act of kindness and my wife most certainly didn’t either, the pandemic has confirmed that kindness still runs through many people but it was most certainly there long before it.
What kind act or acts have you received that you’ll never forget?
Years ago I was on holiday with my wife in Cyprus, and, as is normally the case, we got to talk to various people on a regular basis.
One particular couple were a father and daughter from the same part of the country as us, we shared a table for a meal a couple of times and most evenings we had a drink and a chat in the bar of the hotel.
They were returning home the week before us so we met for a last couple of drinks at lunchtime and to wish them farewell, while we were sitting there enjoying the drinks and chat my wife received a phone call from her sister informing her of the sad news that her father had unexpectedly passed away.
As you can imagine the news was devastating and I wished the couple all the best and said that I was going to comfort my wife as best as I could and then I was going to see if I could arrange flights back to the UK so that she could be with her family.
We exchanged phone numbers and they then departed for their flight back home, about an hour later a text message came through to me and it was from the daughter texting from the airport and the contents were totally unexpected, it was an offer to pay for both of our flights back to the UK and to let them know the cost.
As you can imagine it was a lovely offer from two people we barely knew, and while it was a fantastic gesture I messaged back thanking them for their huge kindness but we couldn’t accept it.
We did manage to get flights back the next day and from that day on we were firm friends with the couple, I’ve stayed friends with them even after my wife passed away and still meet them occasionally for catch up.
I will never forget that act of kindness and my wife most certainly didn’t either, the pandemic has confirmed that kindness still runs through many people but it was most certainly there long before it.
What kind act or acts have you received that you’ll never forget?