No matter how busy we are, taking a few moments to do a small act of kindness for someone can mean a lot in the end. Whether it is helping someone cross the street, opening the door into a building or even helping out in the neighbor's yard, taking just a small amount of time out of your day can make a bid difference.
Just a few summers ago, I was a college student living in one of the dorms on Otterbein's campus (near Columbus, Ohio) during the warm summer months. I was away from my hometown and loved having the freedom of spending my favorite season in a city I had grown to love in a short amount of time. I had a great internship and a fun summer job to keep me busy.
There were other students in the dorms as well but I will never forget one who I befriended through several acts of kindness. Alex was not an Otterbein student, however, he had an opportunity to live in the dorms while doing an internship nearby. Alex was friendly from the very start to everyone.
Alex had a great internship lined up but there was one particular problem; he didn't have a car. Alex was from the west coast and having his car shipped out for a small amount of time (his internship was only a couple months) was not cost effective or convenient.
It wasn't until I saw Alex going on a doughnut run to Schneider's Bakery in Uptown Westerville that I realized the hardship he was facing. With not much means to get around, he couldn't always make it to the grocery store and when his internship shift ended at night, Schneider's was one of the few places open that late.
I recall there was one Friday where I got off work around noon and was sitting in my dorm when a knock came at my door. Alex was the man behind the door and he asked if I could take him to Subway. I didn't hesitate to say yes so that he would have something else to eat and offered to take him anywhere else he wanted to go.
Not too long after that, Alex needed a mailbox so friends and relatives could send him letters. I took time out of my day to speak with the person in charge of the mailroom at Otterbein and the situation was fixed.
Just after a couple acts of kindness, I could tell from Alex's face that he appreciated what I had done and it was not the last time I helped him out. I was always willing to lend a helping hand and will never forget how those small acts of kindness went a long way and made a difference.
