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A passerby bumped into him
He didn't know her name
She offered no apology
He smiled just the same

How could he know her spirit soared
Despite her child was ill
She was rushing home from work
And had no time to kill

She spoke kindly to the doctor's nurse
Who had troubles of her own
Her husband had abandoned her
With five children still at home

The kindness prompted the harried nurse
To go home and hug her kids
And tuck them in all safe and warm
Which she rarely ever did

Her middle child went to school next day
Feeling good and didn't bully another
The teacher was glad, and so was the classmate
Who went home and told his mother

The mother celebrated her child's good day
With a lovingly prepared dinner
Her spouse was pleased with his happy family
And felt like a real winner

In gratitude he went to church
And gave more than his usual donation
To benefit the homeless shelter
A cause for much elation

So many lives impacted
Kindness reigned all the while
Who would have thought, all this could be wrought
By one random stranger's smile.

Learn more about this author, Carol Gioia.
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