A Good News Story...an Act Of Kindness That Changed A Life

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/38937247

We need more people like Stephen Finlayson, don't we all agree ?

[murraymints]

ah..hankie time !

[Tilly2]

The world would be a better place with more people like Stephen. Well done to him and good luck to Phil.

[murraymints]

I once scooped up a wee girl 14 who was begging outside the theatre and took her home, next day I phoned her parents who collected her, she had ran away 6 moths prior and was scared to phone home

[Tilly2]

Good for you, Minty.

[murraymints]

she was a pretty wee thing and clearly at risk in theatre land at 11pm, could not leave her

[mikey4444]

Yes...good for you Minty. This is effectively what Stephen Finlayson did....show some basic human kindness to a complete stranger.

We need more people like him and you, and more good news stories like this !

[Tilly2]

Having said what I've said, I couldn't actually do that. I'd be very wary of taking a stranger into my home.
I could pay for a B&B for them for the night but I would not be able to take them home, I don't think.

[murraymints]

mind you she did eat a whole pile of bacon 'n' broon once here! less for me..ah well...

[Tilly2]

I admire you for having the courage to take her in, Minty.

[murraymints]

fortunately oh agreed and had she just been put in B&B would have been back on the streets following day, she had not been on drugs or drink which may have flavoured my descision

[Tilly2]

You did well.

[murraymints]

see my halo ?? lol

[anneasquith]

MM. Was this a long time ago ?

[murraymints]

about 5 years ago

[anneasquith]

As she was a minor I wonder why you did not get the police involved (though a kind gesture it's illegal )?

[murraymints]

had she not given me phone number for parents then I would have to have involved police, but I thought she had enough problems going on without involving them immediately, she was just so pleased to be going home with mum and dad

[mikey4444]

The difficulty with these acts of kindness is that we don't always know the best thing to do. Even here in Swansea, we have homeless, sleeping in shop doorways, and while I have every sympathy, and would like to help, just exactly what should I do ?

I met a lady the other day that gave me an idea. She was unsure about giving money, so she bought him a big roll and cup of tea from Greggs ! She even checked first whether he was veggie or not ?

Maybe I will try that. i tend to give money to the Big Issue sellers, as I think that there is some kind of filtering done, before they are let out the door with their stock of magazines.

But I may be wrong about that as well. I still donate food to my local Trussell Trust Food bank, on a monthly basis, and have been doing that for nearly 3 years now.

Its all so difficult !

[murraymints]

big issue sellers are not necessarily homeless, they just have to have been so at some time in their lives