In a time of great hardship, sorrow and uncertainty whereby COVID-19 has stripped us of our freedoms and opportunities, let’s remember it costs nothing to be kind.
Johannesburg, South Africa (07 February 2021) – No one really likes renewing car licenses or going into South African public departments but this elderly couple – who could not read, or see properly – had a moment of kindness at their local post office, thanks to a kind lady who happened to see that they were struggling.
Their story is a reminder to be kinder, a reminder that you never really know the true impact you have on those around you. You never know how much someone needed that smile you gave them. Or that simple “hello, how are you” message. You never know how much someone needed that long hug or deep talk. You never know how much your kindness turned someone’s entire life around.
Read the COVID Kindness story below:
Let me tell you a story of kindness in the time of COVID-19.
Yes, we all are concerned and stressed about the COVID-19 virus and the impact it is having on our livelihoods and lives however I feel we have lost our humanity and compassion for others because of the need to social distance.
Today I had to renew my car license (an annual pain in the ass for me).
Whilst standing in the cold outside the post office, I saw an elderly couple waiting patiently for their turn. The old lady took the form to fill in the license renewal, and her husband stood outside the post office watching while she was filling in the form as with COVID-19 you are restricted to the number of people allowed in a venue at any one time.
I saw the old lady ask another woman who was waiting for the teller to help her with the form, but she was denied assistance as the other lady clearly was very busy and didn’t have time… I asked the gentleman outside if his wife needed help as it was painstaking watching her fill in the document, he was relieved when I volunteered as he said he is illiterate and she has cataracts in her eyes, so she is struggling to see.
I walked into the post office, asked her if I could take over as she was struggling. I took her pen and started filling in the form.
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Little did they know, I too had an issue with my eyes as I had laser surgery done yesterday after my very own cataract procedure in November and I know full well how amazing it is to have your sight restored.
My short vision was very blotchy and blurry; however, I persisted with the wife and her husband, and I helped fill in the necessary sections on their form.
Her cloudy white cataracts eyes were filled with tears because she would have been sent back and forth multiple times if the form was filled in incorrectly. This couple was so grateful they even insisted I jump in front of them in the queue to renew my license as a small measure of thanks.
In a time of great hardship, sorrow and uncertainty whereby COVID-19 has stripped us of our freedoms and opportunities, let’s remember it costs nothing to be kind. There are opportunities all around us; we just need to stop and think about the impact we have on others and how one tiny act of love and kindness can change the world. Some of us have the privilege of eyesight and the ability to read; this couple had neither of those. We should use our privilege as a platform to help lift others; we rise by lifting others.
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