My mom's good deed to a stranger

debo_2006

17 years ago

My 73 YO mom had to fly out of state to go to her sister's funeral. While she was in the airport, she was buying a puzzle book to keep her busy on the plane. There was an older lady (who appeared to be in her mid-upper 80s) in front of her who was buying a phone card using her credit card to pay. The cashier told the older lady her card was rejected. The woman was so upset and didn't have any cash or other means to pay. My mom asked the cashier what she was buying and was told a $10 phone card. My mom wipped out a $10 bill and paid for the lady's card.

Another lady behind my mom saw what she did and asked my mom if she knew the lady. Mom said no. The lady wipped out $5 and gave it to my mom saying she had never seen such a generous gesture to give a total stranger $10 without any questions or anything, so she wanted to pay for half because it touched her.

Mom said the older lady asked for her name and address so she could pay her back through the mail. She was very appreciative. Mom told her not to bother and that some day she could do the same for someone else.

I was proud of my mom to hear this story. We grew up very poor without a 2 cents to rub together and I know it made mom feel good that she was able to do this for someone in need.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (23)

Lindsey_CA
17 years ago
Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman. You have every right to be proud of her.
grammahony
17 years ago
She's a good woman.
Related Discussions
No Good Deed ...
Q
Comments (7)
Thanks Hoov - I appreciate that. I called around and the only place that had it available was Roses Unlimited and even there she said they only showed one plant, so if they have it they'll ship it to me if not I'll take you up on your offer. aggierose - I hope you don't get discouraged. These little guys need fosters to keep them out of shelters. I was to blame - I should have been out there with them. Jeri - I wish I could block off their access - our yard is really small and I actually put the pots around the bed so Bella would not be able to climb into the beds, it's kept her out. The pups won't be here for long, one is already in "pending" and the other has a lot of interest as well. Next time I'll be more vigilant :o) - Harm's Way sounds like a great name! Here are the two rascals playing in the yard with Bella Aprille
...See More
Lets hear your good deed Gardening Stories
Q
Comments (2)
Does sharing plants count as a good deed? Three years ago I bought seeds for an ornamental Siberian apple (malus baccata) variety called 'white streak'. It's on Gardens North website. The instructions warned that the variegation in the leaves might not show up until the second year or not at all in some of the seedlings. Well just my luck, not one of the seedlings had any variegation, and we are talking 3 years later. I debated on throwing them out, but I feel bad just throwing any plant away so I brought them to work, put a "free to a good home" sign on them and even a short paragraph on how to care for them. I hoped someone would take them. They may not be variegated but they will still make nice ornamental apple trees. Would you believe the 5 tiny trees were snapped up within 10 minutes. That and an extra catalpa I had sitting around. It wasn't a 'big' deed, but it felt good sharing the plants and I joked that my trees were being adopted to good homes. Plus, it really made me feel good when one lady at work said she planted them the first thing when she got home that night, it told me she appreciated getting the trees. Glen
...See More
I did my good deed for the day
Q
Comments (5)
I spoke to the teen I gave the kitten to today. He was vet checked yesterday and has worms and is underweight but no mites or fleas. He also was tested for Feline leukemia but she didn't get the results yet. Vet said he was closer to six weeks which surprised me since he was so tiny. I'm guessing he doesn't weigh half a pound...maybe 1/3. The teen , Alyssa, has him isolated in her room as the family has three other cats they adopted. I wish I could perform this miracle every day..find a lost kitten, find a good home ,but it seldom works out that way.
...See More
We will see if no good deed really goes unpunished....
Q
Comments (8)
It's really nice what you've done mom2emall, hopefully it helps BM. Sounds like you already made the decision but your post has been on my mind so I'll still put my 2 bob in :-) You're right, it's better to stay neutral with BM rather then befriending her. There's every change that that would put you in the middle of BM's drama and that's not good for the kids, simple as that. The kids need you and that is your primary concern, so it's better to keep BM at a distance. My experience with people like this is that they take advantage of you, even if they don't do it with bad intentions. It's just the only way they know. They'll lean on you, unload on you, drain you of your energy. This is how they cope with their drama. BM might show up at your place one night after a fight with BF, imagine what that would do with the kids. You just can't afford to take the risk. You're home is their stable and safe place. You've done a nice thing, I hope BM is encouraged to take some action :-)
...See More
momrox4
17 years ago
Thanks for a real day-brightener! Your mom is a very special person (but I'm sure you already knew that!)
kacram
17 years ago
yea! love those stories
your mom sounds great!
sunshines
17 years ago
Your mother has a good unselfish heart.

I have a friend who wants to start keeping a coin can next to her printer so when her adult grandkids use her printer they can help pay for the ink. The two only use her printer once in a great while and she is not a poor person.
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
17 years ago
Your mom is a real Sweet Heart! Thanks for sharing her good deed with us.

Sue
carol_in_california
17 years ago
What a great story!
Your Mom has a good heart.
evatx
17 years ago
I wish I knew your mom. Thanks for sharing that great story with us!
veta
17 years ago
What a nice thing for your mom to do. I think the lady behind her was also pretty special for offering to pay for half of it.
Veta
mduncan0614
17 years ago
Great story. Thank you for sharing. Made me smile!
Jodi_SoCal
17 years ago
A very nice "pay it forward" story. Thanks for sharing.

Jodi-
mitchdesj
17 years ago
sunshines, coin can near the printer, wow that's a tad cheap..... specially since it's her grandkids.

debi, nice story about your generous mom.
bearcat_va
17 years ago
Your mom is awesome! A great example for all of us!
jannie
17 years ago
What a nice story! I remember one Christmas I was out of work and had no money for gifts for my two kids. My sister sent me a check for $500 with instructions to "pay it forward". When I was able, I donated to the Cancer Society.
lindaohnowga
17 years ago
This world needs more people like your precious mother, and the lady behind her as well.
ruthieg__tx
17 years ago
That's so cool.....
susanjf_gw
17 years ago
sort of like oprah's theme she does from time to time...what goes around comes around...it would be interesting to see just how far reaching her gesture goes...
lindyluwho
17 years ago
Awesome story. Your Mom rocks.

Linda
Marilyn Sue
17 years ago
What a very nice Mom you have. So sweet to do that.

Sue
socks
17 years ago
We need more of this!

This week the lady in front of me in a shoe repair shop had a credit card which would not work. I was thinking of paying her bill, but when she told me it was $100--I changed my mind! But I had the thought!
okie_redhead
17 years ago
That was a wonderful thing to do! I also love stories like that.

My good dead is kind of funny though. I work in north Tulsa (not a good area) on the way home last week there was a new pickup pulled over and a extremely well dressed guy beside it on the phone. He looked agitated and I slowed down and asked if he needed anything. He said he was out of gas and I offered to drive him to the station to get some. He wanted to fill my truck up for doing it and I told him no, just stop and help someone else who needs it. When he got out he tried to give me his business card and I told him no it was not nessecary but he insisted and left it on the console of my truck. Later when I looked at it I had a good laugh he was the Executive Vice President of one of the largest banks in Tulsa.

Melissa
FlamingO in AR
17 years ago
Yay for your mom! What a lovely thing for her to do.

Melissa, that's a hoot! I bet he doesn't run out again any time soon, how embarrassing for him. (I can say that 'cause I have never run out of gas, ever. Knock on wood.) lol
kathi_mdgd
17 years ago
Bless your mom and the lady behind her as well.

Melissa,good for you as well,don't know if i'd pick up a stranger these days though,although i've done it in the past on the Marine corps base here at Pendleton.It was pouring rain and this Marine was walking with his records in his hand trying to keep them dry.I figured he was going to the hospital as was i,so i stopped and asked him,and he was ,so i gave him a ride.He was very grateful,and i felt good for doing so,as i knew people in the past had given DH a ride,when we didn't have a car.
Kathi

My mom's good deed to a stranger

Comments (23)

Lindsey_CA

grammahony

Related Discussions

momrox4

kacram

sunshines

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana

carol_in_california

evatx

veta

mduncan0614

Jodi_SoCal

mitchdesj

bearcat_va

jannie

lindaohnowga

ruthieg__tx

susanjf_gw

lindyluwho

Marilyn Sue

socks

okie_redhead

FlamingO in AR

kathi_mdgd

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US