An act of kindness can go a long way in improving someone’s day, week, or month. It is impossible to know the daily struggle of those passing us by, and sometimes the smallest action can mean the world to another person. Taking just five minutes out of your day to do something extra may be just the moment that makes a huge impact on someone’s life, and it could be a moment they will remember for years to come.
Generally, these types of acts go unrecognized but not always. Take a look at this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featuring an act of kindness from our own kind and generous David Hreha. You can view the original article here.
Random Acts of Kindness: A wonderful birthday at the ball park
James Hilston; October 27, 2016 12:00 AM
Those of you sitting in the Section 138 bleachers at the Sunday, September 25, Pirates game may have seen him: my almost-seven-year-old son, Max, who wanted more than anything to celebrate his birthday with the Buccos and hopefully leave with a game ball to show for it.
My husband helped him make an “It’s My 7th Birthday!” sign, and Max held it up at every inning break, often running down to the left field wall to show it to the bullpen guys warming up the outfielders. Some of them saw him. Often a ball was thrown in our general direction. Twice my husband or one of Max’s older brothers came oh-so-close to snagging it. But as the innings passed, and Max still had not secured a ball, his eyes became a little teary as he trudged back to his seat.
The kind fans sitting around us were rooting for him, though, and in the seventh inning, Max got the most amazing surprise. A gentleman in a Roberto Clemente jersey sitting a few rows behind us (sadly,we did not get his name) came up to him and wished him a happy birthday, then gave him a bag from the Pirates Clubhouse. Inside was not just one, but two Pirates baseballs! Max was astonished and so very grateful, as were my husband and I. There is no one like a Pittsburgh fan!
But we have to plug east coast fans too, because Max’s birthday celebration was not yet complete. During the next pitching change, the gentleman sitting in front of us asked Max to stand on his seat because he was going to sing “Happy Birthday” to him. Max obliged, and the man, who a little internet research revealed to be the great opera tenor Cody Austin, in town to sing a principal role in “La traviata,” serenaded all of us in the section with the most beautiful version of “Happy Birthday” we had ever heard.
Max learned a great lesson at that game. You might not always get what you want when you want it, but the world (and Pittsburgh in particular) is full of kind people who will bend over backwards to help you out. Thanks to both of those amazing men, and the many others who wished Max a happy birthday at the game. You made it a far more meaningful experience than if Max had actually caught that elusive game ball!