Was my act of kindness a waste of time?

Question

Some time ago I was shopping in Birmingham City centre (UK). I had travelled by bus. While I was going from shop to shop I noticed two young barefoot guys. One was about 14 years old and his brother was about 19. They were begging to passing shoppers.

The only money I had on me was a £20 note.

I figured that what the boys really needed was shoes to survive the cold nights etc

I could only afford to buy one guy a pair of sneakers or trainers. Since i could not buy one lad a pair and not the other I decided to find an alternative solution. One of the guys took the same shoe size as me. I decided to buy the younger lad a pair of trainers and socks and to give my own trainers and socks to the older brother.

I had no money for the bus fare home and Inow found myself barefoot in the city.

I faced the long 11 mile walk . No-one stopped to offer me a ride home.

Was my act of kindness wasted on two down and out guys?

Answer 1

I was young when I bought this first home in a not-so-good of a neighborhood. Everyone warned me that things would be stolen from my back yard, crimes committed, etc.

Well, most of my neighbors on my street turned out to be elderly, and they've shown that others are so wrong about how my community really is. My street is quiet and everyone keeps to themselves, and I hardly know anyone by their names, but they are definitely angels. It started three years ago when I was hospitalized for 8 months. My yard got neglected, and no one was able to cut it for me, not to mention I was unconscious and unable to hire someone. Instead of complaining to the state about me, and not even really knowing where I was (they guessed I was sick, but didn't know for sure), they took it upon themselves to clean up my whole yard and maintain it for the entire summer, even after I got home. My yard is HUGE, and very hard to keep up with, but every weekend they were here cutting it. I was so shocked, nowadays people are more prone to just complain and not waste their time to think that there might actually be a problem with the person. I now serve on the board for the civic association, and I always share this story any time a person comes to the meetings to complain of what they think was "neglected on purpose" properties.

My angels didn't stop there. Three months ago my fiance was killed in a motorcycle accident, and since he was living here with me, this is where the cops came to announce my nightmare, and also where the family convened to mourn. My neighbors all watched people screaming and crying in my front yard (the house was too packed to fit everyone inside), and the neighbors began that night, by stopping in to check on me (they had never been in my house until this night), they all chipped in and delivered tons of food, and then they even came to the funeral (even the teenagers of my street were there). Then just last week we got our first snow storm. and when I looked outside my window the next morning, I saw someone had already come by and cleaned my sidewalks. This meant the world to me, because I can't do this with my health, and this is the first time my fiance wasn't here to do it for me.

I'm not even close to my neighbors, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. They've made my move into this community so worth while.

Answer 2

You may not believe this but..........

Something very similar happened to me. I was going through a bad time and was living on the streets. I was not barefoot but very close with badly worn out shoes and my coat was falling apart.

A guy from the local Christian hostel gave me his shoes and socks and coat.

OK he did not have to go barefoot home since he had a car but I have a feeling that he would have done so if he was walking.

Due to that I not only learned a little about human kindness but also found friends by attending his church.

Maybe the two guys you met did not do so well but I can promise you that they will always remember it.

No act of kindness goes unnoticed.

I know what you are thinking - Did I waste my time with those guys and suffer that long barefoot walk for nothing. The answer has to be no.

Thanks M8 on thier behalf (I remember the fear of ending up barefoot on the street)

Answer 3

I certainly don't think it was a waste of time. You made a sacrifice very few people would have done. I guess it would have been quite tempting to just give them the money.
How did they react?
You never know how this act of kindness may affect these people. It may be years later, but that one act could make a difference.

Bless you.

Answer 4

your act was important to you and to the 2 guys. It's not like billiards where every action has an immediate reaction. Think of your act more like helping a very young child who will be influenced but not remember your name. You may not get recognition but you did show the two guys that unselfishness is possible. Even if they took the gift and laughed, you have given them a real memory of someone who invited them into membership of a caring community.

Answer 5

What you did was extremely kind, and everything that you do will come back to you eventually.

However, I can't help agreeing with Mad Maddy on this one. There is a saying that says something to the fact that you should hold your good deeds in your heart so you can forever be happy that you did a service to your fellow man, but never reveal your kindnesses to another.

Answer 6

No, I think you will be rewarded. You should not expect an immediate reward for such a charitable act. Out of respect for yourself though, it probably wasn't such a good idea to leave yourself so vulnerable. Live and learn. Next time you have the urge to be charitable, make sure that you can afford it first. I can't guarantee that you'll ever be rewarded for that act, even though I think you should be.

Answer 7

If you even have to question about weither or not your kidness was wasted, you probably 'lost your blessing' that you would have received, for doing the kind act in the first place.

If your going to do a "Random Act Of Kindness", just do it! No questions, no doubts. Perform the act, and let the chips fall where they may.

Answer 8

it made you feel good didn't ? so it wasn't a waste of time. You had sore feet they had shoes at least you know they didn't spend your £20 on booze or drugs. If I give anyone anything when they are down on their luck ( and I do all the time ) I feel good inside all day. How could it be a waste of time? kindness has its own rewards always. Don't change too many of us are selfish now.

Answer 9

I'd have to say this was very very kind of you, and someday it will come back around.

I think your gift should not have been thought about twice. I bet those two boys will be forever in gratitude and remember what you did for them for a long time. You should feel blessed that you had the opportunity to improve someone else's life.

Answer 10

Your act was an act of kindness and sacrifice. Perhaps you have done something that will never be forgotten. Your short term inconveniences pales to the long term inspiration that those two guys were offered. In as much; perhaps they will pay it forward to someone else. Way to go!

Answer 11

that was amazing what you did!
Good things happen to good people and whatever you do comes back to you, good or bad.
Even if the boys were playing you (maybe, maybe not, you'll never know), you did something out of the kindness of your heart, something not everybody does nowadays. I don't even know you, but I am proud to be part of a human race, that has people like you in it.
Be patient and your good deed will come back to you ten times bigger than what you did for those boys.