I love this beautiful story. It is said to be true… and that is good enough for me! Even if it were not true, similar true stories happen all around the world, every day of the year. And for that, we should all celebrate… and do everything each of us can do to see that more such stories play out every day, all around the world!
This story is all about genuine kindness and sincere gratitude. It is all about investing our time and energy wisely… and the inevitable incredible returns from our investments in kindness. This story is all about values that will endure and inspire people forever!
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water.
She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”
He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, his faith in mankind was strengthened also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr, Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor’s gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day forward, he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.
He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.
She read these words…
“Paid in full with one glass of milk!”
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly
Seek out opportunities to give and serve others… Genuine Kindness… with no intent whatsoever to be acknowledged or repaid. We all reap what we sow. We will be repaid… with something more valuable and lasting than money or public recognition… we will be repaid with priceless, lasting Sincere Gratitude… it is only a matter of time.
