Amazing what one act of kindness will do!

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I am interviewing my dad for a heritage album for his 70th birthday, and I am hearing AMAZING stories from him. PLEASE interview your parents/grandparents, anyone close to you before it is too late. I so regret not doing this with my grandparents.

The Story...

After WW1 my grandfather was a rufugee in the Ukraine where there was scarce food/famine. My grandfather had been given 1 piece of bread at his job and he went home to hide/save it. Over comes a Russian acquaintance and his younger sister for a visit. My grandfather gave the bread to the girl..... Fast forward to 1940 during the Russian occupation of Latvia. The same Russian friend is now an officer in the army and has a list of intended deportainees to the Siberian Labor Camps. He sees my grandfathers name and calls him in to see if it is the same man he knew back in the Ukraine. On the way to see the Russian officer my grandfather is sure he is not going to see his family again and hugs everyone goodbye.... instead the man warns him not to be home at 1:00 am - returning the favor from so many years before.... home comes grandfather during the early part of night, wakes up the kids and together with his wife they flee to the countryside!!!!

 

[NMAmy]

The stories our elders can tell are a wonderful resource. After my father passed away, I received so many notes from friends and family that told stories of things they remembered about my dad--stories that I had never heard. It's a great gift.

It's amazing that an act of kindness was returned a hundredfold. I try to remember this in my daily life--any good I do will come back to me.

Thanks for the great story.