Sometimes a small act of kindness from a stranger can make a huge difference. Today I was worrying about my father. He’s been in the hospital since last Saturday and I had to come home yesterday. When I spoke to him this morning, he craved food from outside the hospital (who can blame him?)

I got on the phone and tried to find a take out restaurant that could bring him some low sodium soup. Of course, given that it was New Year’s day, nothing was open.

Then I got lucky. I called the Windmill Restaurant in Long Branch, New Jersey. When I explained my dilemma, the man on the other end of the phone said he didn’t have anything in his restaurant that was appropriate. Then he paused and said, but don’t worry, I’ll pick up some soup and bring it to your father in the hospital.

I was shocked that a complete stranger would go out of his way to help someone with whom he had no connection. Not only did he offer sustenance, but he also told me about several visiting nurse services, a volunteer organization called Visiting Angels, and told me where I could get meals delivered to my father after he returned home. I spent some time on the Internet after speaking with Steve Levine and learned that the Levine family has a long history of giving back to the community, that generosity part of their operating philosophy.

After spending several long days with no answers, frustrating questions and difficult decisions to be the recipient of an act of simple kindness brought tears to my eyes. So, thank you Steve Levine of the Windmill Restaurant. You made my day. I just hope that I can find a way to reciprocate by finding a way to be kind to someone else who needs a pick me up.