#RAoK, holiday

A Story of Holiday Kindness #RAoK #NaBloPoMo

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Nov 18: Tell us about one time that you benefitted from the kindness of strangers.

NaBloPoMo_1114_465x287_NOV_0

It was two Christmases ago, I was with my babies shopping at Target.  The holiday spirit was dampened by the devastating news out of Connecticut.  In spite of that horrific situation, I was trying to remain jubilant.  We strolled down the Holiday aisles of Target, seeing the kids smile and get excited for Santa’s visit was SO uplifting, to me.  I needed it.

SandyHKindness

While we were there, at Target, looking at all the Christmas decorations, I saw a boot.  Not, like a boot, boot, but a mug-like boot.  I picked it up and showed the kids.  The kids and I had been on the lookout for a boot for St. Nicholas day.

St. Nicholas Day| Boots

 

 

Out of nowhere this sweet older woman with a Sox jacket came up to me, and asked me about the boot.  I told her how my girls both have boots for St. Nicholas day, but my son did not have one.  He was using a shoe for St. Nicholas day, while the girls both had pretty ceramic boots to set out for St. Nick each year. I was debating if I should get this plastic mug boot because it wasn’t as nice as the girls.  The lady smiled and said you should get him the boot.  🙂

Target Shopper

She kept looking at the babies with such endearing eyes.  She made small talk with the kiddos and then we wished each other a good day.  I thought that was it, but then she found us, she came up to me and said Merry Christmas, buy something for the babies, and put money in MY pocket!

Target Shopping| A story of kindness at Target | Kindness

(I’m crying now thinking about that day.)  I remember feeling so thankful for that.  The spirit of the holidays was there in that sweet woman.  I needed that.  Not the money, but I needed to know people were good.  I needed my kids to know the same.  The littles asked half jokingly, “What if she is Mrs. Claus?”  At that moment she was.  This woman gave me a present, she restored my faith in humanity if just for a few.  I had been crying myself to sleep those days thinking of the families who wouldn’t have the holidays with their babies or loved ones.

St. Nicholas Boot

Needless to say, I went back to the plastic Santa boot mug, and purchased it for my boy.  It may not be as fancy as my girls ceramic boots but it has such a lovely story behind it, I had to have it.

Have you ever had a stranger do something kind for you?

33 thoughts on “A Story of Holiday Kindness #RAoK #NaBloPoMo

  1. Corina Ramos

    November 19, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    What a beautiful story! How sweet of that woman to do that. When the kids were little we had some financial struggles. I went to the store with our last $20 to buy the essentials. My daughter was 4 at the time and wanted a candy. Well, I had budgeted my purchases and I know I didn’t have enough.

    The man behind me heard her asking for it and he was so sweet enough to buy it for her. It’s so good to know there are still kind people out there.

    Thanks for sharing. Your post put in me in a great mood. Been feeling blah all day. Happy Wednesday!

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 19, 2014 at 10:15 pm

      That was sweet of him. There really are good people out there in the world.
      I’m happy to hear my post put you in a good mood 🙂
      Wishing you a beautiful week!
      xoxo

  2. Bev

    November 19, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    Oh, what a sweet story! It’s the little moments like these that really do restore your faith in humanity. Thanks for sharing!

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 19, 2014 at 10:12 pm

      Yes, those moments of kindness, remind me there is always good.
      It was such a sweet gesture, one that I think many people want to act on, but don’t. She kept smiling at my babies, it was truly as if she was just as thankful for them as I was.
      XOXO

  3. Raquel

    November 19, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    What a wonderful act of kindness! I LOVE hearing stories like that. I cannot think of a random act that I have experienced personally, but I do know a lot of people that have been VERY kind and generous with their actions.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 19, 2014 at 10:20 pm

      It really was a lovely act, and I’m glad my kids were there to see it. I’m always telling the babies to share kindness, so for them to see kindness given to them I was happy. I try to share kindness when I can, but I’ve never done anything like that sweet lady did for us.
      Thanks for stopping over.
      OXOXO

  4. GiGi Eats

    November 20, 2014 at 1:28 am

    OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!! People like this woman help me have at least a tiny bit of faith in humanity! HA!

    The other day I was very upset…. More so than now, ha! I went to the post office and had to take my sunglasses off to sign something, only to reveal my damp eyes. The post man said: Oh my goodness you’re absolutely gorgeous, 100% serious… And I just started BAWLING. He was so sweet. His words truly touched me. I mean, I know why I was crying… But I really just wanted to hug this man! He even came around to me a little later when I was getting a package and made sure I was okay. What a sweet sweet man. No one in LA is that nice! ha! Well, unless they want something!

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 21, 2014 at 5:15 pm

      He was totally being serious, you ARE gorgeous! I’m sorry you were/are upset. I’m glad that man was kind to you, sometimes random strangers can give you exactly what you need. No? Yes, sometimes, they can be jerks too, but I’d like to focus on the kindhearted people. Sending you love and hugs!!!
      XOXO

  5. Tamara

    November 20, 2014 at 11:09 am

    I’m honestly in tears here. I’m just in that mood, I think.
    This isn’t quite the same but yesterday I really wanted some soup and Des was acting out a bit at the market. A nice older woman told me to rest for a bit and she’d scoop my soup for me. It was so nice!

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 21, 2014 at 5:17 pm

      I think it’s the same, a nice stranger, caring about those around them. She seems like a sweetheart. We’re all going through something, and when a lovely stranger takes time to share a small act of kindness, it’s huge.
      XOXO

  6. Lady Lilith

    November 20, 2014 at 9:01 pm

    It is so nice to find others doing good. It makes the world a better place.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 22, 2014 at 8:07 am

      Yes, it does. I hope I am part of the good, I try to share kindness everyday; I hope that is something my kids have learned from me, and will continue on when I’m long gone.
      XOXO

  7. Chastity

    November 21, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    She was Mrs. Claus! That is a wonderful story. Your story has restored a small amount of faith in humanity for me. It’s so sad we’re surprised when someone does something genuinely kind for another person or is just a decent person. Shouldn’t it be that we’re surprised at hatred and the hurt others cause? I pray and worry about the world my children will grow up and raise their own families in.

    I hope this holiday season is magical for you! xoxo

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 22, 2014 at 8:19 am

      That’s what I thought too, Mrs. Claus, for sure 🙂

      You make a valid point!!! Why is the act of kindness so astonishing? I’ll admit it, I hate to watch the news because I do NOT like to see ugly. Sometimes the ugly surprises me, but sometimes not so much. When we lived in Chicagoland the news was horrible. I would always wait for the news station to close out the news with *something* happy. They usually closed the news with sports, and even that had ugly 🙁
      I hope things will get better for our babies.

      Wishing you a magical and KIND holiday season!
      XOXO

  8. Kirsten

    November 22, 2014 at 11:00 am

    Love this story. I love hearing about the kindness of strangers. That woman was totally Mrs. Claus. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 22, 2014 at 12:27 pm

      She really was 🙂 I’m SO lucky to be the recipient of her kindness, as are my babies.
      Wishing you a beautiful holiday season as well!
      XOXO

  9. BritishMumUSA

    November 22, 2014 at 8:14 pm

    I am crying, tears running down my face, snot flying crying. That day is my birthday. My nana was born on that day, she was an amazing lady. She is long gone, and I kinda dislike that day as my buddy is not here to celebrate with me. Then those babies were taken on that day. I took my date off of Facebook, I didn’t want people celebrating that day. Not sure what I feel about that day, the news will be full of it.

    I am so glad that that day that lady walked up to you, you were open to hear her and she gave to you…. I am smiling inside and crying outside. What a beautiful story!! Thank you for sharing.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 24, 2014 at 8:12 am

      Oh, Ray, I’m sorry. I hate that day will be forever associated with such a hateful act, I’m sorry those babies and teachers were taken too soon, and I’m sorry you no longer have your birthday partner.

      That sweet lady, was such a lovely reminder that there is good/sweetness in the world. I had been crying all weekend long, and just needed to get out of the house. Doesn’t everyone stop at Target for a “breather”? Anyhow, she was such a dear to stop and share love to my babies and I. I so needed it.
      All the best~
      XOXO

      1. BritishMumUSA

        November 26, 2014 at 5:41 pm

        I am saving this story to read on Dec 14. It will be the second year, and I will hold this story dear…. to me!

        1. MrsA0K2001

          December 1, 2014 at 11:44 am

          That makes me so happy, Ray! XOXO

  10. Kristen

    November 23, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Ok I’m tearing up! What a sweet gesture, and a wonderful reminder about what this season is all about.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 25, 2014 at 9:21 am

      Her gesture was one of the sweetest gestures ever. I needed to know there was still good in the world and she brought it, thankfully. She truly embodied the spirit of Christmas, I’m glad my babies were able to receive the love from a random sweet stranger.
      Thanks for stopping by. Happy Holidays!
      XOXO

  11. Vashti Quiroz-Vega

    November 23, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Hello! What a lovely story, and you’re such a sweet sensitive person. It does feel good when, every so often, someone steps up and does the role of an angel. Without moments like those life would be too hard. 😀

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 25, 2014 at 9:24 am

      Yes, I’ve been told many times I’m sensitive, and I am. I’m also a pirate https://www.mrsaokaworkinprogress.com/2014/11/funny-how.html 🙂

      I live for those moments, I hope to grant those moments, especially to someone who like me needed it.
      XOXO

  12. karen

    November 24, 2014 at 5:06 am

    wow…I’m crying too…what a beautiful story and moment of great kindness. I think if everyone was kind and decent to each other on a daily basis, the world would be such a wonderful place.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 25, 2014 at 9:28 am

      Wouldn’t it be lovely if the world were filled with little sweet older women in Sox jackets just handing out kindness 🙂
      I will think of her forever, now that we have our special boot.
      XOXO

  13. Brandy

    November 25, 2014 at 2:02 am

    I love stories about random acts of kindness! What a wonderful gesture from a stranger.

    My post tomorrow morning is going to be about giving back (about a campaign here in Canada called Dare2Give). I absolutely love it and giving back. It does a heart and a soul good!

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 25, 2014 at 9:31 am

      I live for stories of random acts of kindness. I sometimes go on Pinterest and look through the different “faith in humanity restored” pins, they always put me in a good mood. I usually walk away inspired to do more good.

      I cannot wait to check out your post, and share 🙂
      XOOX

  14. Robbie

    November 25, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Lovely. I am tearing up. Kindness is very powerful.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      November 25, 2014 at 11:28 am

      Yes, indeed. Love is the most powerful force, no?
      XOXO

  15. Samantha

    December 2, 2014 at 10:31 pm

    That is such a beautiful story. I know the world is full of good people but it is easy to forget until some one like this lady comes along and reminds us the world can be pretty amazing.

    1. MrsA0K2001

      December 3, 2014 at 5:28 pm

      That is the truth! We live in a beautiful world, sadly we see SO much ugly, but thankfully the beautiful souls are all around us 🙂
      XOXO

  16. Mommy Monday Blog Hop {129} - Mrs. AOK, A Work In Progress

    December 7, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    […] Does anyone here celebrate St. Nicholas Day? If you do, I hope your boots were full this morning […]

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