Elderly War Veteran Had An Embarrassing Accident In The Local Store, But This Stranger's Kindness Gave Him Some Dignity

"The look of his dignity lost left me with a lump in my throat."

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• February 23, 2019

Every now and then a story comes along that really restores your faith in human kindness. This is definitely one of those stories.

It all began when Lisa Lemming Jackson was out shopping at her local grocery store in Georgia, USA. She spotted an elderly man looking distressed, which prompted her to make eye contact with him and offer a friendly smile.

Lisa wrote about what followed on Facebook.

“Just spent 2 hrs with a elderly man at Kroger. It started with me just smiling at him, making eye contact...As I walked past him he looked like he needed something. I went back and asked him if I could help him. Tears welled up in his eyes and he said: I have colon cancer and I have had a really bad accident, if I get up out of this cart everyone will know... What should I do?”

"The look of his dignity lost left me with a lump in my throat."

"From that moment on, Kroger staff quickly fetched us wipes, undergarments and discreetly took him to their employer bathroom Area where he was given clothes. He cried and apologized. He said he had to hurry his wife was at home alone. When we walked to the register we found his groceries all bagged and somehow paid for. He cried harder.” Lisa went on.

"He said he fought in Vietnam and Korean War and loved his country, but up until day he said he thought his country forgot about him."

"We both cried and I shared with him my own struggles and fears… He gave me words of wisdom and encouraged me that maybe after all, humanity still does care about one another. Today proved it." Lisa continued.

"Thank you Elmer, thank you Kroger and thank you God for the lesson and reminder I got today.”

What a beautiful, kind heart you have, Lisa!

It's amazing how one small act of kindness can make such a huge difference to someone in need. After all, it doesn't cost anything to be kind!

Stephanie