A world where everyone is polite to everyone and looks out for everyone may sound far-fetched, but it is not impossible. Every human being has an empathic disposition and can demonstrate empathy for others. A small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone's day. I've been the recipient of random acts of kindness, and it's taught me to help anyone who is in need.
I took my baby to the health center on Tuesday for her 9th month immunization. We arrived a little early and opted to sit in the rear while they set up the room for the day's activity. Next to me was a very young lady with unkempt hair. She was so thin that you could see her bones, and her dress didn't do much to hide it. A newborn infant, clad in old baby clothes and nursing her breast, was in her arms.
She was on the phone, and while I hadn't intended to listen in on her discussion, she seemed like she was about to cry, and I couldn't help but strain my ears to figure out why she was in such a bad mood. On the phone, she begged for a $2 loan so she could register her kid for immunizations and file for a birth certificate. I listened as she repeatedly promised to reimburse the money that evening. She complained about how her boss had yet to pay her paycheck since she had gone to birth and how she planned to meet him for the money the next day after the immunization.
It broke my heart that $2 was all that stood in the way of a newborn infant being registered with the health center for immunizations and a birth record certificate. Every newborn deserves to be immunized shortly after birth in order to strengthen their immune system. I reached out to my purse and folded two dollars, which I placed in her hands while she was still on the phone. She opened her hands and looked at what I had placed in them, and tears flowed freely.
I couldn't bear watching her cry, so I shifted my seat, but she still followed. She knelt next to me and thanked me with long words of gratitude and prayer. I don't think I deserved so much thanks because what I gave her was a very modest amount, something I could easily blow on snacks and a bottle of Coca-Cola, but I was delighted her baby was registered and got the immunizations she needed.
Many people are out there suffering various hardships, and all they need is someone to offer them a small act of kindness. Let us learn to do good things every day, because there is always a reward for doing good.