When was the last time you did something kind for a complete stranger?
If you think this question is silly and you shouldn’t worry about being there for someone you don’t even know, remember that doing good always pays off.
Being kind to people, even the random people you meet every day, could impact their lives more than you can ever imagine.
Plus, you never know which of those strangers will stick around and become an important part of your life.
The story, which Briana Hefley Shepard posted on the Love What Matters Facebook page, is about the unlikely friendship
between a little girl named Rio and the train conductors who were impatiently waiting for this young lady to greet them from their large window.
This story will melt your heart. Make sure you read the story to the end.
“About three years ago, our operation moved to the new location. It’s right on the train tracks, which means we have front row seats and can watch all the locomotive action.
It didn’t take long for the hosts to notice Rio waving at them, and they returned those greetings. Over time, it became their ritual.
They whistled, she ran to the window, they opened their windows, and everyone said “hello” and smiled from ear to ear. I shed tears almost every time.”
“Then, a few weeks ago, Rio started school.
Her transition to day school hit me a little harder than I expected, but the first day the train went by and she wasn’t there, it hit me even harder.
They blew their whistles, they opened their windows, but I was the only one there crying and weakly waving. The next day, I made a sign.
I simply wrote, “He came to school.” I heard the whistle, ran to the window and held up my sign. That happened three weeks ago.”
“Oh, I cried.”
“This morning, almost a few minutes after I entered the store, someone knocked on the door. It was a man in a bright yellow t-shirt and earbuds dangling.
I thought he was a construction worker who wanted to talk about construction, because that’s what we do here. I was wrong. He was there to ask about the little girl with blonde hair who was waving at the trains.
She was one of the hostesses and everyone was wondering what had happened to her.
Today they had a short train, so they stopped further along the tracks, came to our building and knocked on our door. Oh, I cried.
They had seen my sign but couldn’t understand what it said. They assumed he had gone to school, but they had to be sure.
He said his greetings made their day. They shared these moments for three years.”
“They want to do something for her; she misses him. She asked if they could send her something, to which I said of course! They will send her a birthday present in a few weeks.
Witnessing their unconventional friendship over the last few years has been nothing short of magical. Knowing that it has affected them as much as it has affected us fills me with love and hope.
Today’s visit and their continued kindness to Rio has reaffirmed my belief in goodness and humanity. These are moments we will remember forever.”