A little act of kindness 

By Howard Coop

Contributing writer

It’s a long time ago, but do you remember a number one hit song on the U.S. Billboard Chart in 1954?

Kitty Kallen, a singer who was voted the “Most popular female singer” of that year, sang “Little Things Mean a Lot,” a song written by Edith Lindeman. I liked that song very much then, and I still like it. I have remembered it across the years because it says something worth remembering: Little things in everyday life do mean a lot. A little act of kindness can mean so much.  

The truth expressed in that song was driven home to me in a little thing that occurred one beautiful day this past summer. I had worked at my desk all morning, and about noon, I needed to go to the post office to mail four bills that were coming due. When I arrived at the post office, I realized that I had a pocket full of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. So, I turned to the left and stopped at a desk to count out the necessary change.  

Just as I finished, a little piece of paper fell on the letters to be mailed. I looked, and a very pleasant lady was standing by my side. She said, “Let me do something nice for you.” When I looked again, that little piece of paper was four postage stamps.  As I offered her the change, she shook her head and disappeared out the door without another word.  

It happened so quickly that I am not sure she heard my words, “Thank you.” I was amazed by a total stranger’s simple act of kindness.

A pleasant lady I had never seen and may never see again went on her way. I don’t know how the rest of her day went, but mine went well. Her little act of kindness did so much.  

Later I saw a statement by an anonymous individual, “Never stop doing little things for others. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.”