A small act of kindness, will reward in unexpected ways.

This happened in the 19th century. An elderly couple was caught unaware in heavy rain in an alien country. They could not return to their country due to cancellation of flights, due to the inclement weather. They tried to get a night's accommodation in a nearby hotel. The desk clerk checked the register and told them that all rooms were booked in advance for the night, as there was a scheduled business conference in that city the next day. The desk clerk was a compassionate guy. Considering their age and helplessness, he wanted to somehow help them tide over the crisis. He offered his room for the elderly couple for the night. He said he would manage the night on his own. Though his room was not having better amenities like the regular guest room, they could sleep in the room for the night. 

The next morning the couple thanked the clerk profusely and took his address and left for their country. A few years later the clerk got a letter from the old couple, with a return flight ticket to New York. He went to New York and after lunch, the old man took this young man around New York. In a particular place he stopped and showed the young guy a big upcoming building. He told the young man, 'this is the hotel I am building and soon it will open for business. And you will be managing my hotel business'. The young man was dumb-struck and couldn't believe his eyes. The old man was none other than William Waldorf Astor, the original owner of Waldorf Astoria hotel chain.

Another incident. An employee in an ice cream factory went inside the freezer room when it was almost the factory closing time. As she could not come out of the room in time, the programmed automatic door locked, leaving the employee inside the freezer room. She tried to knock the door, shouted out for help, but to no avail. As the room was sound proof, her voice could not be heard outside and moreover all employees left the factory for the day. There was no escape for her. She thought that she would be frozen to death. The time was running out for her. Suddenly she heard a click and the door opened. How was it possible? The security stood there and she got greatly relieved. With surprise in her voice she asked how he knew that she was locked inside the room. He said that all the employees never took notice of him during his long career as security in the factory. But she was the only one who greeted him in the mornings and bade 'bye' in the evenings. Since she did not bade him bye that evening he had a doubt and checked all the rooms. She thanked him and went home.

There are several such incidents to quote. The small act of kindness rewards the persons in unexpected ways and in the needy hour. A lot of people among us show this kind of kindness to the under-privileged people every day, which may go unnoticed. But certainly this will come back manifold, when in need. Please show kindness to down-trodden people as they are also human beings like us. Never look down on somebody, whatever position they are in. Have compassion towards fellow beings.