Good Samaritan to the Rescue

My friend and I were cycling along a park the other day when she had a fall. A bug landed on her hand and she jammed brake. It was too much for the bike, and it tumbled forward rather dramatically. My friend suffered cuts to her hands. Just as we looking helplessly at her bleeding hands, a roller-blader came by. The kind-hearted stranger stopped and asked us if we needed help.

To me, the whole affair had a mysterious air of a miracle. The man only had a little waist pouch with him, but it turned out to be a fully equipped first aid box, complete with cotton, antiseptic and gloves. He proceeded to clean the wounds with touching care and thoroughness. Our good samaritan explained that he carried the things with him as he frequently suffered falls while rollerblading. We remarked that he must have treated more strangers than himself in the park. I could imagine him coming to the park in the weekends and “rescuing” other strangers.

At the end of the cleansing, we thanked him and asked if there was anything we could do to repay his kindness. His answer touched me. With a smile, he simply said: “Pass it on.”

— T.L.L.

Posted 29 November 2004 | Link to This Entry

A Beautiful Donation

About 10 years ago someone gave me a nightgown and robe for Christmas that was (to put it tactfully) not my style. I had arranged to spend the day volunteering at the local soup kitchen so I rewrapped the gift and took it with me. I gave it to the shelter manager and asked her to pass it along to anyone who she thought might appreciate it, just telling her that it was a Christmas gift from her (it seemed more personal than saying that it was a donation). A couple of hours later as I was serving lunch, a very sick looking woman came through line, beaming from ear to ear. She stopped each of the volunteers and showed them the “beautiful” new Christmas gift that she had been given by the shelter manager. Sure enough, she pulled out the gown and robe that I had donated. Apparently she was scheduled for surgery the next day and was absolutely terrified. She related to me that this was the first new article of clothing that she had ever owned. She began crying there in the soup line, explaining that this was the best Christmas ever because someone had cared enough to give her a gift.

Ever since that Christmas, I think about that woman as soon as I wake up on Christmas morning. I feel blessed for the abundance with which I have been graced and humbled by the overwhelming effect that something so simple (donating a nightgown that I didn’t want) can have on another person’s life.

— Katherine

Posted 8 November 2004 | Link to This Entry