Kyle Kindness Month Stories
During the month of September we asked people to share their stories about acts of kindness that they did themselves, or witnessed being done by others.
Enjoy these stories that have been shared with us describing acts of kindness that are making our communities better places for us all!
OPERATION KINDNESS
"I was asked if there was an experience in my life that I could share about kindness.
I guess there have been many experiences throughout my years in soccer and in life when I was asked to come up with a story, though, it was harder than I thought. I usually just go along doing what I feel needs to be done and don't really stop to think about it as an act of kindness.
But one story came back to me.
Many years ago, when I was at ASA in Arlington, we had a program for 3- and 4-year-olds called JATO TOTS. It was designed to give our youngest players their very first experience with soccer. As you can imagine, we would sometimes have little ones who were scared, shy, or crying and weren't quite ready to join the other children on the field. I had a mascot named Leo the JATO Lion, a big, huggable stuffed lion. Leo was pretty good at bringing smiles to little faces and sometimes helped give a child enough courage to venture onto the field—or simply sit nearby and watch.
One Saturday, there was a little girl who sat quietly staring out at the field. She didn't really move or talk to anyone, but something told me she wanted to be out there. So, I went and got Leo.
I sat down beside her with Leo. At first, she didn't look at me, so I didn't push. After a few minutes, though, I noticed her sneaking little looks at him. I waited a little longer and finally asked, 'Would you like to hold Leo?'
She looked at me, smiled, and nodded yes.
I handed her Leo, and about five minutes later she ran over to her parents, asked for her soccer ball, and came back to sit beside me. She held Leo up to the ball and started making him "kick" it.
After watching this for a little while, I decided to try one more thing. I asked her, 'Do you think Leo would like to go out on the field and play with the other kids?'
She looked up at me with the biggest smile and said, 'YES! Leo would like that!' So off we went.
For the rest of the session, she carried Leo around the field, helping him kick the ball and play soccer. When the session ended, she ran over to her parents and excitedly asked, 'Did you see how good Leo did? I'm so proud of him!'
Her parents hugged her and agreed that Leo had done a great job.
Then she turned to me and said, 'Okay, I need to go with my parents now, but make sure Leo comes next time so I can teach him how to play with the other kids.'
And Leo was there the next Saturday.
For the next several sessions, she would come find Leo, take him onto the field, and help him warm up and play with everyone.
Then came our final session. That day, something was different. Instead of taking Leo onto the field, she handed him to her mom.
And then she went onto the field by herself and played the entire session with her team.
After the awards ceremony, her parents came over to me with their daughter and Leo. They thanked me, and both had tears in their eyes. They explained that their daughter struggled a little with interacting with others and that what had happened with Leo had meant more to them than I realized. They told me it had made a difference in their little girl's life.
Of course, at that point, I was looking for the nearest box of tissues!
That little girl probably thought she was teaching Leo how to be brave enough to play soccer. But somewhere along the way, Leo was helping her discover that she was brave enough all along.
Kindness doesn't always have to be something big. Sometimes it's simply noticing someone who needs a little extra patience, sitting beside them without pushing, and finding a way to help them take that first step.
Thank you, Ann and Rob, for asking me to remember and tell this story. It reminded me once again why I love what I do so much."
Stories of kindness from Diane’s Kids:
"I emptied my bathroom trash to help my mom" – Rickey Jr.
"I buckled my seatbelt" – Alex
"I gave my friend my origami" – Loui
"I helped my brother at jujitsu" – George
Diane runs the TopSoccer Program for FWYSA. She encouraged her kids to share some of their kind acts at last week’s soccer practice.
"Rebecca was helping at the fields both Saturday and Sunday as a board member and helping keep things going smoothly. She had overheard Diane and Monica talking about having to go out to our Westside complex to fill cracks in the fields as there were many due to irrigation issues. An email went out to the U11/12 teams asking for volunteers to come out and help. Rebecca felt that if we are asking for help from coaches and parents that it was only right that she attend as well. So for the 3rd day she drove from Duncanville through traffic and spent the evening filling and dumping sand into cracks so that our players would be safe on the fields."
– Janet N.
"Today I was at a Subway, this lady came in. There was 1 person ahead of her who was being waited on. There were two cars in the drive through. I watched as the lone employee happily, efficiently, correctly served each customer with a smile and outstanding service. It was quite impressive. He didn’t get nervous; he didn’t cut corners, he changed out his sandwich making gloves after receiving money at the till. This lady ordered her meal, sat down to eat it. Two more walk in customers showed up to place an order, one of them, ordered 3 sandwiches. The young employee still had new - drive through people, I knew this because he continued to alternate between walk-ins and drive through window. It was so refreshing to see outstanding work ethic on display. I am guessing the young man was early 20’s. The lady, went outside to her car, came back, proceeded to write a note and add some money, wrapped up in the note. Before leaving, she handed it to the young man, and told him, 'What a nice treat to come into this Subway today, thank you for enjoying what you do' – Another customer, said to the woman, 'This young man is on top of his game.' "
– Observant customer/soccer parent
"Just wanted to share we had a ref named Josh for both of our games this weekend. He was so respectful and kind to both the coaches and the players. I was really blown away by his professionalism and kind demeanor. He brought joy to the game which I always appreciate. Just wanted to pass that along."
– Coach Veronica (FWYSA)
"Let me introduce you to this awesome couple. Many Saturdays I have noticed this couple along Hwy 287 in Arlington on my way to the soccer fields.
About 3 years ago, I had to stop and meet these people. I told them 'Thanks' for keeping the roadside appealing. I stopped again on Saturday because I wanted to know more. Here is what they shared with me. Unless it is pouring down rain or we have an ice storm – you will see Ethan & Katie keeping a stretch of HWY 287 super clean, free of litter and recycles. What started out as keeping the entry of their neighborhood looking sharp (No HOA) has grown to the task of keeping a half-mile area, a quarter mile each way, keeping it nice. I asked, do you get tempted to extend your route – 'no, there has got to be boundaries' we start at sunup, make sure it’s safe for us, fill 2 – 50-gallon trash bags and a couple smaller bags of recycles. I told them, I was sharing this with FWYSA.
14 years, you know we don’t have much rain or freezing ice. What great kindness!"
– Ann (fellow citizen)
"My Mother-in-law recently lost her job. While out shopping, my wife picked up a carton of her favorite milk. We took it to her place, dropping by to say 'hi'. She wasn’t home, so we left it. When we opened the fridge, it was empty. We checked the cupboards, they were bare. We were heartbroken that she didn’t tell us. We went back to the store, filled up a cart, and restocked her shelves and fridge. When she got home, she wept with gratitude. We are thankful we picked up a carton of milk. We love our family."
– Jaycob K (Son-in-law, referee)
"At Costco today, on my way inside, I noticed a young man loading cases of water into the back of a minivan as two elderly women were standing by. After he loaded the last one, I heard the women say, 'thank you, young man'. He replied, 'Happy to help' and then retrieved his own cart of goodies to take to his car. I said to him, 'Thanks that was very kind of you'. I thought to myself, very cool that he was in tune to those around him. He could have walked by, but instead he did a nice thing, an unexpected, nice thing."
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"Later as I stood in line to check out, I noticed a woman approach 3 firefighters who were also in line. I couldn’t quite hear the conversation, but she ended up paying for their items. They all shook her hand, gave her a hug and I heard someone shout out – 'God Bless our firefighters!' "
– Catherine (Coach/Costco shopper)
"I recently retired from teaching 23 years of kindergarten. A brand-new, first-time teacher took over my class. She is eager and excited for her first year. I left every item that I had purchased over the years, still in excellent condition. Items that brightly covered the walls, learning tools – all of it. Often teachers have to spend their own money to decorate their classrooms and buy tools for teaching. It was all for her to use if she wanted to. I also offered to come in once a week, if needed, at the end of the day. A kind of “check-in”, see if she had questions. She accepted my help. The first couple of weeks, she was a bit frazzled, feeling overwhelmed. Teaching kids is one of the most important and rewarding jobs in our society. I wanted her to know that I am here to help. My goal was to help prepare her for success. I wanted to ensure that she will have the best first year possible."
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"Besides teaching tools, and colorful classroom décor. I had 6 hefty bags of stuffies. Beautifully cared for stuffies. I took them to the local Police Department. I knew from my nephew, that police officers have stuffies in their patrol cars, ready to hand out to young kids. Officer McDonald accepted my gift and asked if she could share some with the local Fire Department. Firefighters often show extra love and care by giving kids a comforting stuffy."
– Debbie R. (Kyle's Aunt) - Lynnwwod, WA
"My team and I were at Chili’s for a team dinner. Next to us was a family of 4 who unfortunately fell short for their meal. My team and I all pitched in what seemed like just a little bit for each of us to be able to not just pay off what was needed, but pay for the whole meal. It was an incredible feeling, and it was even better to receive genuine gratitude for us being kind."
– Eliza B. (College student/referee)
"I am so grateful for someone who holds the door open for me. I love that! I don’t expect it, I don’t ask for it, it just happens and every time that it does, I say “thank you” to the person with a smile of appreciation. Thank you to all those who hold the door open for others. You are making a difference."
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"I will never forget the young boy who made an extra effort to go back and open the door for me. It was a while ago, I was having a lousy day, probably lost in thought, as I approached the door,
this young boy (I’m guessing, 10 or 12), ran back to open the door for me. This young boy had his arm in a sling. We were both at a hospital. He was leaving, I was entering.
He took the time to be very kind to me. I haven’t forgot about that act of kindness."
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"Every time I visit my grandkids, when we do errands, my oldest grandson (9) always holds the door open for people. His family, and strangers. He is so thoughtful and I love it!"
– Ann H. (Mom/Grandma)
"We had a choir member who was dying of cancer. When she was no longer able to come to rehearsals and church services, the ladies who knew her well, took it upon themselves to come up with a rotation to go and sit with her. Some of those times were very difficult. Her family later told me that the kindness she experienced helped her in her final days and gave her great peace."
– Josh B. (Church Minister of Music/Referee)
"I was driving to school last week and I checked maps for any slowdowns, and I saw that on one of the intersections that there was a car wreck. I was thinking, ‘great, I’m already late and this will make it worse. I get to the light where it says the crash was and what I saw caught my attention. There was a car with hazards on in one of the lanes, but further down there was this couple with a homeless man and they had just given him a bag of food. They were talking with him and their body language showed that it was not in a pitying way, but that they genuinely cared.
They were laughing and just showing this man love and kindness. They turned at an angle, and I saw that the shirt said – Antioch Church.
It was a reminder to not be upset about inconveniences because God can use us if we just take time to slow down."
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"One of my U9 games last Saturday, this one boy stood out with biggest smile. He was so excited to play, being with his friends. He kept that positive attitude from the beginning to end.
He even told the other team, 'Good luck' with a smile on his face."
– Olivia (first-year college student, 5-year veteran FWYSA referee)
"Recently, I was checking in on an older friend, making sure she was ok. I had my youngest granddaughter (age 9) with me for a few days. I checked on my friend, and noticed her cupboards were bare, same with the fridge, she needed assistance with her oxygen. I got her all situated, went to the grocery store, came back to make sure she was set for the weekend. I told my granddaughter, that I would give her my full attention, that we would do plenty of fun stuff. She said to me, 'It’s ok, I don’t mind helping, some people are worth the extra help.' then she proceeded to tell my older friend, 'Let me know if there is anything I can do for you while I’m here this weekend'. As we drove home, she said, 'Grandma, when I graduate, I’m going to go to a college close to you so I can take care of you.'"
– Debbie L. (Friend/Grandma)
"This week, I had my first trip via airplane all by myself. I am 18, and up until now, I have always traveled with my parents. I was a bit nervous. I set up all the travel arrangements. I called my grandpa (Poppy) and asked if he would take me to DFW, 'Of course,' he replied. Yesterday before picking me up, he sensed my anxiousness. He said, 'You need a coffee, I’m on my way.' I was met by awesome friends at CHS. I was so grateful for all who willingly took the time to drop me off with a smile (and coffee) and pick me up with smiles.
This trip was for an International Soccer Tournament held in South Carolina that I was blessed to be selected to referee. I have been refereeing since I was 13. My dad would drive me to the soccer fields, now I have my grandpa (Poppy) driving me to airports. Because so many have invested in me, their time, energy, their words of encouragement and teaching, I am having a blast representing North Texas Soccer Referee Program wherever I go. I am so grateful!"
– Emma B. (6-year veteran soccer referee)
"My daughter makes time to write birthday cards for fellow classmates in choir.
She knows their birthdates because she pays attention to the info posted on the birthday board in the classroom."
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"I make it point to stop and greet all the employees at my local grocery store/convenience store by name and check in with them, asking, “how is your day”. I want people to know they matter."
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"A player’s mom told my daughter, 'You do such a great job of welcoming new players with a smile, making them feel welcomed and included'."
– Kristen M. (Mom/Coach/Referee)
"Every day I walk my dog in the neighborhood. I think to myself, I want to be the one that smiles the most, no one will out smile me today.
I have been doing this for a while now. I want to be a welcoming presence in my neighborhood. I am noticing great, big smiles. At first, people would be shy, but not anymore. I see mostly the same people return my smiles and it’s awesome! It feels really good."
– Terri S. (Referee)
"My son was working for FIFA @ the Dallas HQ, where he had been given an internship. He would take the train into work each day. One day, before getting on the train, he noticed a homeless man. He shared his lunch with him, offering him half of his Subway sandwich. On the same day, after work, on the way to the train, he noticed a young man who was trying to replace his flat tire and he offered to help him. Then, right before boarding the train, a man nearby had an epileptic seizure, and my son stepped in to offer his assistance and call 9-1-1.
I’m so proud of my son for noticing those around him that could use some kindness. Rather than walking by, he stepped in to help."
– Paul V. (Parent/Coach/Referee)
"A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday, my husband and I dropped off our youngest son at college. We helped him unpack, set up his dorm room, and said our goodbyes. The next day, I was sitting in my office, reflecting on this new chapter of our lives. There right in front of me, was a note – Dear Mom & Dad……. As I read this beautiful note of “thanks for the last 18 years”, I thought our son is thoughtful, genuine, and appreciative. All those deposits of love, and life lessons were on full display with such a simple, heartfelt note of gratitude."
Julie G. (parent of a 5-year veteran referee who is off at college)
"I am one of the referee coaches and often team up with our younger age referees to mentor them. After a recent game, there was some commotion. One of the young players of the
losing team was so upset. He was having a hard time with this defeat. He ran from his team and his grandma. I was so proud to watch the two younger referees, calm him down,
encourage him, and get him to the point where we could all have a conversation about sportsmanship and being a great teammate when you lose.
This young player left with a smile on his face. His grandma was beyond grateful for the kindness shown to her grandson."
Chris F. (referee/referee coach)
