“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana
People tend to play down small acts of kindness. Well, sometimes, even the tiniest of gestures can have a ripple effect, strengthening your faith in humanity. A story of one such act out of Fort Wayne went viral, beyond the imagination of the people involved. Martha Smith randomly stopped a lady at the checkout in Fort Wayne Dollar Tree located on Coldwater Road. Her message, simple: she wanted to give the lady’s daughter some money. The purpose, simpler: the young girl can buy anything she wants.
Heathyr Harkless stated that she didn’t know Martha from before. Hence, she felt surprised when Martha stopped her and her daughter, Hensli, out of the blue. When Heathyr asked her why she wanted to give her daughter money, Martha simply stated that at one point in the past, someone paid for her groceries, even though she had a full cart. She simply wanted to pay it forward.
A picture of Hensli and Martha went viral, leading to attention from local news networks as well. The act seems to have had the desired effect, as Hensli not only got herself some ice cream but also bought a book to donate to a children’s hospital. The recent kindergarten graduate also got something special for her teacher. This story shows how the older generation can inspire goodness in kids, as Martha did for Hensli.
At Sheltering Grace, we believe that every act of kindness, regardless of how small, deserves recognition. Even though Martha Smith did not desire any attention, the story went viral on social media, which shows how people respond to generosity and goodness.
Sheltering Grace Ministry, Ltd. is a 501(c)3 Ltd. non-profit ministry. We resolve the initial crisis of homelessness by providing mothers with a safe place to live during pregnancy. We also equip them with the tools they need to improve decision-making, enhance employment options, and increase family income to act responsibly as the head of their household. All of our services develop their self-reliance to progress to permanent independent living. Please join us in renewing and rebuilding the lives of these brave women – #Be1of5000.
