The great thing about doing something kind for another human being is that it doesn’t take a lot of effort. Often, opportunities present themselves at the most unlikely times and in the most unlikely places. The difference between an average person and someone remarkable is how they respond when they see another person in need.
One story has touched so many people that we wanted to share it with you. It all started when a woman named Denny Kukich was on a plane. As she stated, “I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat.” Nothing out of the ordinary…so far.
Time in the sky
Denny, who shared her story on the Facebook “Love What Matters” page explained that this particular flight was long. So, she was glad that she’d thought ahead when she chose to bring a book along. Due to the length of the time she’d be flying, she thought she’d probably have ample time for a nap as well.
New passengers
As Denny was waiting for the plane to depart, she saw a group of soldiers coming down the aisle toward her. With so many empty seats, several sat down nearby. So, she started a conversation with one of the gentlemen. That’s when Denny asked the one solider seated nearby where he was going.
Into war-torn territory
The man explained that he and his comrades were heading to Afghanistan on deployment. The two of them talked for so long that an entire hour had passed. That’s when a flight attendant announced that sack lunches were available for $5. Considering it’d be a while before Denny reached her destination, she opted to buy lunch. But then, something happened that she hadn’t expected.
Overhearing a conversation
She could hear several of the soldiers talking about the available lunches. Denny then reached into her wallet to pay for her lunch when she asked the soldier she’d been speaking with if he was going to get one.
An unexpected response
The soldier replied, “No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn’t be worth five bucks. I’ll wait till we get to the base.” After making that statement, another soldier agreed.
Something troubling
But as Denny looked around, she noticed that none of the soldiers were buying the sack lunch. Immediately, she got up from her seat and walked to the front of the plane. There, she approached the flight attendant and handed her $50. She then politely asked her to give each of the soldiers’ lunch.
A beautiful moment
That flight attendant took hold of Denny’s arm and while squeezing it tightly, she began to cry. With heartfelt words, she stated, “My son was a soldier in Iraq, it’s almost like you are doing it for him.” She then prepared to hand each solider a bagged lunch.
One question
But before she did that, she wanted to know if Denny liked beef or chicken better. She was puzzled but after the flight attendant passed out the bagged lunches, she gave Denny an incredible dinner that was for first-class passengers only. Her only comment, “This is your thanks.” After eating, Denny headed to the restroom located in the back of the plane.
A touching surprise
Denny was stopped by another passenger who noticed the act of kindness she’d shown. This man told her, “I want to be part of it. Here, take this.” With that, he handed her $25. But that wasn’t the end of it.
The captain approaches
With a broad smile on his face, he told Denny that he personally wanted to thank her. Come to find out, Denny’s kind gesture especially touched the captain. Speaking in a loud voice, he said, “I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.”
More generosity
Although Denny felt a little uncomfortable with all the attention, the rest of the plane didn’t care. Everyone stood up and gave her a hearty round of applause. Later in the flight, she walked to the front of the plane to stretch out a bit. That’s when another passenger handed her $25.
As she waited to get off the plane, yet another passenger put $25 in her pocket, smiled, and walked away without saying a word. When Denny got inside the terminal, she located the soldiers and handed them the $75. Her only parting words, “It’ll take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God bless you.”
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