Life has a strange way of surprising us. Sometimes, the good we do comes back to us in ways we never expect.
My name is Sarah, and I come from Jinja, Uganda. I’ve always believed in kindness. For many years, I tried to help street children in my area.
I didn’t have much, but whenever I had some extra food or coins, I gave them to those in need. I believed that somehow, these small acts of love would bring blessings into my life.
But while I was helping others, I was also fighting my own battles.
I lived in a tiny one-room house with my two younger siblings. Our parents passed away when we were young, and I became their mother, sister, and provider. Every day, I sold vegetables in the market to earn money.
But life was hard. Sometimes we slept hungry. Rent was always overdue. I wore the same old clothes for years and often wondered why nothing ever seemed to go right for me—despite all the good I tried to do.
I started to lose hope. I questioned God. I wondered if maybe I was cursed, or if life was simply unfair.
But then something unexpected happened.
One rainy evening, as I was packing up my unsold vegetables, a young man approached me. He looked clean and well-dressed, but there was something familiar about his face. He smiled warmly and said, “Do you remember me?” I didn’t.
He said, “Ten years ago, I was one of the street boys you used to feed. You never judged us. You gave me food, even when others chased us away. You even gave me slippers once when my feet were injured. I never forgot you.”
His name was Brian. He told me that one day, after I gave him food and encouraged him not to give up, he made a choice to leave the streets.
He found help from a church group, later joined a skills training center, and learned to repair electronics. Eventually, he got a scholarship from a charity that helped former street children.
Now, Brian owns a small electronics shop in Kampala—and he’s doing well.
He said, “I’ve been looking for you for years, Mama Sarah. I owe you my life. And I want to help you now.”
At first, I cried. I didn’t know how to respond. No one had ever called me a blessing before.
Brian helped me in so many ways. He paid off my rent debt, enrolled my siblings in better schools, and even gave me a small loan to expand my market business. But most importantly, he reminded me that my kindness was never wasted.
Lessons I Learned:
No act of kindness is ever too small.
Even when you are struggling, your heart can be a gift to someone else.
What you give today may return to you in the most beautiful way tomorrow.
God works in mysterious ways—never stop doing good.
Today, my life is slowly improving. I no longer feel forgotten. I no longer question if my kindness was pointless. I now know that the seeds I planted in the hearts of others were growing all along—even when I couldn’t see it.
To anyone out there feeling hopeless, please remember: Never turn away from those in need. The help you give might be the reason someone chooses to change their life—and one day, they may come back to change yours too.
