Unexpected kindness
 

We've occasionally struggled to make ends meet over the past 6 months, so I was grateful for what happened earlier this evening.

Somewhere between 8-9pm, I heard a knocking at the door. This was odd because we weren't expecting anyone.

I walked down the hall and approached the door cautiously in case of unexpected dodginess. (I didn't expect any dodginess, but I did expect unexpected dodginess. Unexpectedly, there was no dodginess. This took me by surprise).

I opened the door and looked around, but the mystery door-knocker had done a Harold Holt. There were three plastic Woolworths bags sitting by the doorstep. They were all full of groceries. One contained three kilos of good quality meat.

http://i41.tinypic.com/5oi143.jpg

Rummaging through the contents I found a note. It began with a quote from the Bible and ended with four kisses and four hugs. There was no signature.

The donation was obviously made by a member (or members) of our local church community, but we have no idea who it might have been. Of course we asked all the right questions:


Mrs Stampede: 'Who do we know that's rich?' :confused:
Me: 'Sweets, compared to us, Blind Bob under the bridge is rich.' http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/5344/mfbookread.gif
Mrs Stampede: 'OK, who knows we're hard up?' http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3019/unsureb.gif
Me: 'Anyone with a brain?' http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5928/readeb.gif


Humour aside, it's a wonderfully generous gift. We're counting our blessings tonight. :)







PS. It was Pup's 3rd birthday today (party tomorrow; photos to follow). :thumbup:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

That's a lovely surprise for you.Many of us have been where you are now and understand how hard it is.I recall many years ago digging down the back off the couch looking for change to buy a carton of milk before the inlaws visited.We have survived the hard times and are doing ok now.However we never forget that despite our hardship back then how lucky we are now.All the best.:fingerscrossed:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

What a lovely gesture from someone :)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Hope the pup has a decent feed on its birthday.... But dont give him All the best bits, just coz its his birthday... A dog is just as grateful for the lick of a plate when you're finished .... As it is for a whole bloody steak ...


(attempted humour... Epic fail...)

Thanks for sharing that with us.... :thumbsup:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Happy birthday pup!

Isn't it lovely that people will still help out those in need without them directly asking.:thumbup:

So many charities are after your money that you feel guilty about saying no, and you often wonder where your money is actually going. This act of kindness was a direct and neighbourly thing to do, with no middle men to take their cut. Wish that more people would look out for their neighbours like that.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Thats really nice. You will find the person giving got just as much pleasure:thumbup:

In the week out vintage shopping:o, I met a lady who does foster care, had a boy with her, taken into care during the night, suspended from school, probably due to some horrendous home life:(

Anyway went home and got a large bag of my kids too small but as new clothing for them. Its so easy to do something good for someone else.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

That was a very kind gesture from someone. :cool:

I hope your financial worries subside soon. :fingerscrossed:

PS: What was the quote from the bible?

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

We have all been there mate,no shame,that's life,even those who flatshare at 48;)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

That's a lovely unexpected surprise Vash. Especially when you were expecting unexpected dodginess.

Hopefully when you and Mrs Vash are in the position you will do the same kindness for someone else who needs it. :nod:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

:thumbup:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Thanks everyone. :thumbup: It has been quite tough. As I said to someone just this week, 'My family is currently living on little more than faith and hot coffee. And sometimes the coffee's cold!' :eek:

It was from James 2:14-16, which says:
The note simply opened with 'Be ye warmed and filled!'

We were in such a position last year. I have a friend in Faro, Portugal, who'd been out of work for an extended period and hadn't taken a holiday with his wife and son for years.

They desperately needed a break, so I organised a collection within my church community and raised enough money to fly them all to Orpoto for a 6-day holiday. :)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

You know something Vash? Of all the posters on BE you're one of the last I would have suspected ......

hello, my names eddie, I'm a god botherer too...pleased to meet you:o

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

What a lovely gesture x

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Am I such a bad Christian that you can't even tell? :lol:

Confession: I'm a pastor at my local church. The role is voluntary, so it doesn't put food on the table. But it brings other rewards. :)

Always a pleasure. http://i42.tinypic.com/32zkfmh.gif

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Actually, I think you'll find that it just did put food on your table.....;)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

i love a thread that makes you smile

you must have been nice to someone pal

people dont leave you secret gifts if your a prick!


the gift says more about you ;)


thanks for making me smile

oh can you lend me a chop till tuesday? :lol:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Hahah, good call. ;)

Cheers mate. :)

Actually I'd prefer you didn't give it back after you've used it... :blink: :eek:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

:lol:
you can have the bone

just sitting here thinking about this thread. it must be a nice feeling to have people thinking about ya

at christmas a posted on facebook that someone had broken in, took everything and left my windows open.
friends of ours didnt read the whole post
the post was a joke about an advent calendar

they just read the first part then started texting people to try and get a whip round for us

it was funny, but really nice to think that people really care about you.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

It's always nice when someone says, 'I care.' But nothing beats the feeling you get when they simply show it.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

It is.


Our first years in the US were very unsettling and without the help of wonderful people we met there would have been many times with no food on the table, or even a table!

Fast forward 23 years and life is a lot easier so we make sure we return the favors any way we can.

It does a heart good to know there are people out there that care:thumbup:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Great stuff - you are good people Vash.

You certainly get out of life what you put into it.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

I remember switching my phone off:lol:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

That's a nice post and a great story.:)

Back in the 'olden days' before toll passes, occasionally we'd pay for the car behind. The look on their faces was priceless, they'd overtake and toot and wave.:D

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Thanks guys. :)

As promised, here follow some photos of Pup's party.

The cake was made by Mrs Stampede:

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2035-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2040-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2074-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2092-M.jpg

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Pup receives a present and amuses herself with the gift bag it came in:

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2043-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2053-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2054-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2055-M.jpg

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Pup samples her birthday cake:

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2094-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2108-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/People/F.../IMG2109-M.jpg

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Wibbly Pig enjoyed it too!

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/photos/i...-bMCvjFM-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/photos/i...-hQR7f32-M.jpg

http://sporkboy.smugmug.com/photos/i...-fRfMGWF-M.jpg

:thumbsup:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

great photos, thanks for sharing
:)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

My pleasure.

:cool:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

That was an awesome cake Vash. You must be very proud of Mrs Vash's skills :)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

It was and I am.

:)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Wow... My mother made me exactly the same cake in the early 1970s!!!!

Be careful though Your pup could easily be traumatised by finding half her beloved Sindy doll in a cake and the other half lost for ever... I know i was..:blink:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

:D

We rescued the doll from the cake and cleaned it up. Pup took it to bed with her in the evening.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Beautiful children Vash and a great cake!!

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Looks like a fab day all round:thumbsup:

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Looks as though it was a very happy birthday. The smiles say it all.

There is an expression that says;

When you give, give with love. I think that sums up your unexpected gift.

Good luck to you and your family Vash.

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Beautiful kids Vash and a great cake, all the best to you and yours.

PS: I hope Mrs Vash realises that now she has to make a creative Action Man cake for littlest one's next birthday :D

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

When I made hoopalong kid a crinoline lady birthday cake for her I borrowed Gorgeous's action man coz the girls never had those kind of dolls..

Believe me... Action man doesnt do pink skirts...

And some parents complained....

Dont know why... Kids should learn that gender realignment is perfectly normal .... And you come across cross dressers at some point in your life... Best they learn not to giggle, point and stare at home.... Well thats what HE says:rofl:

(epic humour fail.. HE doesnt wear womens clothrs and would like me to state that for the record)

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Random Acts of Kindness feel great for both the giver and the recipient. Pay it forward..........when you can of course.........and well done with such gorgeous happy children. xxx

Re: Unexpected kindness
 

Nice story Vash, and the kidlets look gorgeous! :)

I'm just getting over my broken leg, and on the weekend, second daughter broke hers badly whilst playing soccer... you just couldn't make it up. Operation with pins... no walking, hospital trips up and down the mts, stress...
Earlier on, friend turned up with our dinner... gorgeous casserole all cooked ready for us to eat.

Isn't it nice to be thought of?

I hope things get better for you. I've not been able to work for 3 months, going into my 4th, so with three children, well, it's hard. But it will get better.