Random act of kindness

It's amazing how when something bad happens (i.e a hurricane) it brings a community together and brings out the best in people. Tonight I was the recipient of a random act of kindness and I just had to share it. I took the kids to a local restaurant to escape another pasta dinner in our dark, cold and "power less" home. A balloon lady was going to the tables to entertain the kids. I quietly asked the table beside us if the balloons were free and they informed me that tips were appreciated. I turned back to the kids and let them know we would be passing on the balloons because I didn't have any cash and it was rude not to give her something in exchange for her ballooning talents. Well the guy must have heard me because he handed my kids each a dollar and told them to enjoy their balloons. The kids immediately thanked them and I followed, thankful and a little embarrassed. We exchanged hurricane stories and power statuses and returned to our dinners. The act of kindess could have stopped there and I would have been touched. But it didn't! The next time the waitress came to the table I asked that I pay for one of their drinks. They later got up to leave and I thanked them again and wished them well. They were a young couple with two kids just like me. And for some reason tonight, they chose to do something nice for my young family. When I got my bill they had put $20 toward it. Why, I don't know, other than they wanted to do something nice, that made them feel good. I was so taken aback and touched, I struggled not to tear up in front of the waitress. It is so refreshing to stumble upon these kind of people. Gives me faith that there still are selfless, kind-hearted people in the world. And I fully intend to pay it forward!