The Lesson My Mom Taught Me

The‌ ‌Lesson‌ ‌My‌ ‌Mom‌ ‌Taught‌ ‌Me‌

‌–Anonymous

The Lesson My Mom Taught Me

I‌ ‌moved‌ ‌to‌ ‌Canada‌ ‌from‌ ‌El‌ ‌Salvador‌ ‌a‌ ‌few‌ ‌years‌ ‌ago.‌ ‌El‌ ‌Salvador‌ ‌is‌ ‌filled‌ ‌with‌ ‌poverty‌ ‌and‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌many‌ ‌people‌ ‌who‌ ‌‌are‌ ‌homeless.‌ ‌The‌ ‌story‌ ‌I’m‌ ‌about‌ ‌to‌ ‌tell‌ ‌happened‌ ‌when‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌around‌ ‌eight‌ ‌years‌ ‌old,‌ ‌but‌ ‌I’m‌ ‌certain‌ ‌it‌ ‌‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌embedded‌ ‌in‌ ‌my‌ ‌mind‌ ‌until‌ ‌the‌ ‌day‌ ‌I‌ ‌pass‌ ‌away.‌ ‌ ‌

‌One day, my‌ ‌mom‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌went‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌Mexican‌ ‌restaurant‌ ‌close‌ ‌to‌ ‌my‌ ‌house‌ ‌to‌ ‌buy‌ ‌some‌ ‌food‌ ‌for‌ ‌my‌ ‌dad,‌ ‌who‌ ‌was‌ ‌sick.‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌not‌ ‌very‌ ‌thrilled‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌idea‌ ‌of‌ ‌going‌ ‌out‌ ‌and‌ ‌helping‌ ‌my‌ mom‌ ‌—‌ ‌I‌ ‌would‌ ‌have‌ ‌rather‌ ‌stayed‌ ‌at‌ ‌home‌ ‌and‌ ‌played‌ ‌video‌ ‌games‌ ‌all‌ ‌day.‌ ‌ ‌

‌While‌ ‌we‌ ‌were‌ ‌waiting‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌food‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌ready,‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom‌ ‌suggested‌ ‌we‌ ‌take‌ ‌a‌ ‌walk‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌block‌ ‌to‌ ‌kill‌ ‌time.‌ ‌During‌ ‌our‌ ‌walk,‌ ‌we‌ ‌found‌ ‌an‌ ‌older‌ ‌guy‌ ‌sitting‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌street‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌sign‌ ‌that‌ ‌said,‌ ‌“Necesito‌ ‌comida‌ ‌por‌ ‌favor,”‌ ‌which‌ ‌is‌ ‌Spanish‌ ‌for‌ ‌“I‌ ‌need‌ ‌food,‌ ‌please.” Since‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌mad‌ ‌at‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom‌ ‌for‌ ‌making‌ ‌me‌ ‌go‌ ‌with‌ ‌her,‌ ‌I‌ ‌did‌ ‌not‌ ‌give‌ ‌that‌ ‌guy‌ ‌a‌ ‌second‌ ‌thought,‌ ‌but‌ ‌thankfully‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom‌ ‌decided‌ ‌to‌ ‌go‌ ‌back‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌restaurant‌ ‌and‌ ‌buy‌ ‌an‌ ‌extra‌ ‌plate‌ ‌of‌ ‌food‌ ‌for‌ ‌him.‌ ‌ ‌

‌So‌ ‌after‌ ‌we‌ ‌had‌ ‌the‌ ‌food,‌ ‌we‌ ‌approached‌ ‌the‌ ‌homeless‌ ‌person‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌gave‌ ‌him‌ ‌the‌ ‌plate‌.‌ ‌I‌ ‌can‌ ‌say‌ ‌with‌ ‌confidence‌ ‌that‌ ‌that‌ ‌was‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌moments‌ ‌of‌ ‌my‌ ‌life.‌ ‌Seeing‌ ‌him‌ ‌smile‌ ‌from‌ ‌ear‌ ‌to‌ ‌ear‌ ‌after‌ ‌getting‌ ‌a‌ ‌hot‌ ‌plate‌ ‌of‌ ‌food‌ ‌made‌ ‌me‌ ‌realize‌ ‌how‌ ‌fortunate‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌and‌ ‌how‌ ‌selfish‌ ‌I‌ ‌was‌ ‌being.‌ ‌ ‌

‌‌I‌ ‌hugged‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom‌ ‌and‌ ‌thanked‌ ‌her‌ ‌for‌ ‌making‌ ‌me‌ ‌go‌ ‌and‌ ‌do‌ ‌that.‌ ‌I‌ ‌will‌ ‌forever‌ ‌be‌ ‌grateful‌ ‌to‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌lesson‌ ‌she‌ ‌taught‌ ‌me‌ ‌that‌ ‌day.‌ ‌From‌ ‌that‌ ‌day‌ ‌on‌, ‌I‌ ‌tried‌ to be‌ ‌more‌ ‌selfless,‌ ‌grateful,‌ ‌and‌ ‌compassionate,‌ ‌like‌ ‌my‌ ‌mom.‌ ‌We‌ ‌kept‌ ‌going‌ ‌to‌ ‌that‌ ‌restaurant‌ ‌until‌ ‌we‌ ‌moved‌,‌ ‌and‌ ‌whenever‌ ‌we‌ ‌saw‌ ‌that‌ ‌homeless‌ ‌guy‌ ‌we‌ ‌bought‌ ‌him‌ ‌a‌ ‌plate‌ ‌of‌ ‌food.‌ ‌Over‌ ‌my‌ ‌life‌ ‌I’ve‌ ‌gotten‌ ‌many‌ ‌great‌ ‌gifts,‌ ‌but‌ ‌they‌ ‌don’t‌ ‌compare‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌joy‌ ‌helping‌ ‌that‌ poor‌ ‌man‌ ‌brought‌ ‌me.‌ ‌The‌ ‌ability‌ ‌of‌ ‌helping‌ ‌others‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌gift‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌ever‌ ‌receive, ‌and‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌something‌ ‌you‌ ‌should‌ ‌always‌ ‌be‌ ‌thankful‌ ‌for.‌ ‌ ‌

Originally published as HeroicStories #896 on June 18, 2021
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39 thoughts on “The Lesson My Mom Taught Me”

  1. The email that I just received was not the fixed version. I couldn’t read it at all. Thank you for the webpage version.

    Reply
  2. Great story, FYI… if I click over to leave you a positive note story was fixed. But the email that I received this morning still has some issues.
    Love these stories keep up the great work

    Reply
  3. Oops! Some days you just can’t win…

    Looks like the formatting in the email is still incorrect. But no matter, when I got the first email and found I could not read it (easily) I just went over to your web site and read the story there.

    I didn’t bother to complain about the error since it just took one click to get to the Good Stuff.

    Have a great day!

    Reply
  4. Hello. I just want you to know that I like the HeroicStories newsletter very much. I noticed the strange looking text in today’s newsletter. I did not know if you had seen it yet, but it looks like there is a problem.

    IŒ ŒmovedŒ ŒtoŒ ŒCanadaŒ ŒfromŒ ŒElŒ ŒSalvadorŒ ŒaŒ ŒfewŒ ŒyearsŒ Œago.Œ ŒElŒ ŒSalvadorŒ ŒisŒ ŒfilledŒ ŒwithŒ ŒpovertyŒ ŒandŒ ŒthereŒ ŒareŒ ŒmanyŒ ŒpeopleŒ ŒwhoŒ ŒŒareŒ Œhomeless.Œ ŒTheŒ ŒstoryŒ ŒI’mŒ ŒaboutŒ ŒtoŒ ŒtellŒ ŒhappenedŒ ŒwhenŒ ŒIŒ ŒwasŒ ŒaroundŒ ŒeightŒ ŒyearsŒ Œold,Œ ŒbutŒ ŒI’mŒ ŒcertainŒ ŒitŒ ŒŒwillŒ ŒbeŒ ŒembeddedŒ ŒinŒ ŒmyŒ ŒmindŒ ŒuntilŒ ŒtheŒ ŒdayŒ ŒIŒ ŒpassŒ Œaway.Œ Œ Œ

    Sincerely,
    Barbara Pope

    Reply
  5. The “fixed” version I got in email wasn’t, but 1) here it is above, pristine; and 2) I was still able to read it at what I call “kindergarten out-loud” speed. It’s all good!

    Reply
  6. Sorry Leo, I am afraid the’fixed’ version sent via email wasn’t fixed. Why don’t you enjoy the rest of your holiday and sort it on your return? Thanks for all you do to brighten up the world with positivity.

    Reply
  7. There’s still something wrong with the coding Leo
    Getting:
    IŒ ŒmovedŒ ŒtoŒ ŒCanadaŒ ŒfromŒ ŒElŒ ŒSalvadorŒ ŒaŒ ŒfewŒ ŒyearsŒ Œago.Œ ŒElŒ ŒSalvadorŒ ŒisŒ ŒfilledŒ ŒwithŒ ŒpovertyŒ ŒandŒ ŒthereŒ ŒareŒ ŒmanyŒ ŒpeopleŒ ŒwhoŒ ŒŒareŒ Œhomeless.Œ ŒTheŒ ŒstoryŒ ŒI’mŒ ŒaboutŒ ŒtoŒ ŒtellŒ ŒhappenedŒ ŒwhenŒ ŒIŒ ŒwasŒ ŒaroundŒ ŒeightŒ ŒyearsŒ Œold,Œ ŒbutŒ ŒI’mŒ ŒcertainŒ ŒitŒ ŒŒwillŒ ŒbeŒ ŒembeddedŒ ŒinŒ ŒmyŒ ŒmindŒ ŒuntilŒ ŒtheŒ ŒdayŒ ŒIŒ ŒpassŒ Œaway.Œ Œ Œ

    Reply
  8. Always a good lesson to be reminded about. Generosity really is its own reward.

    When I received the email version of this, it was entitled “(fixed)”, but came through looking a little odd: every word started and ended with Œ, and each paragraph ended with an additional pair of them. No problem to come here and read it instead, but just thought I’d let you know.
    Keep well. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Well, it isn’t quite fixed, but I don’t care. It reminded me to think of all the things I learned from my mother. She, too, had a lot of compassion and shared it with my sister and me. I don’t know if I live up to her standard, but I try.

    Reply
  10. I almost laughed out loud when I opened the email! The diacritical mark was still there! Different, but wow!

    I actually enjoyed the original email – by about mid way, is reading along just fine! A challenge for some, but as a mail man, I have to read upside down and backwards at times, so not unique.

    I’m glad you put these out – I get pinged sometimes, and that’s good. Means I AM thinking!

    Reply
  11. Hi, Just a short note that my e-mailed copy of “The lesson my Mom taught me” somehow had not been fixed. I chuckled and in my getting to this “feedback” section, I found the story, read it and here I am with my “feedback”. I really enjoy the stories and appreciate the work of the authors and publishers and any and all support people. Thank you for all your work. Allison tufts, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

    Reply
  12. It’s wonderful that you have received 2 new submissions to HeroicStories.
    In today’s email (6/21) I clicked on fixed and the fixed story appeared. Friday I clicked on
    the podcast and I heard the story. In the past, I have searched Heroic Stories home page.

    Thank you for the bright spots in my week with Heroic Stories and Not All News Is Bad!

    Reply
  13. “HeroicStories are most powerful when they relate a simple incident from long ago that had life-changing impact. What makes those stories powerful is the illustration that a small gift of time, or effort, or self can have profound, long-lasting effects on others.” —HeroicStories Manifesto

    Reply
  14. Guess we’re not supposed to read this one in our email. 🙂
    Thanks for always including the link to read online and for doing such a great job!!

    Reply
  15. Giggling again, doggone it, fixed just won’t stay fixed! Must be a deeper problem, but I know you will get it sorted out.

    Reply
  16. As all the comments above…yup…this Fixed version was the same as the first one that arrived. However, when I clicked on the story, it opened in another window in a readable version.
    Something is not quite right with the incoming email though.

    Reply
  17. Sometimes, it’s easier to just say “nope, not going to work” 🙂
    As with most of the commenters, the “fixed” version had similar issues as the original. This time, the link to the web site was available (got a 404 error last time) AND it was readable. Well worth the wait to read the story.
    It’s not always easy to convert web to email. Sometimes the text is in a format that doesn’t convert well (UTF-8, vs. ASCII for example), it’s all in the underlying code that creates the issues. And it’s NOT easy to trace, so I give you TONS of credit for trying to fix it.

    Reply
  18. It was challenging/fun reading between the lines. Reminds us all to slow down a little a see the bigger picture and our placi in it. “Thank you” for all you do and for being human ;). Hope your still enjoying your vacation.

    Reply
  19. So there’s also the lesson that Leo taught me. Everyone can make a mistake, nobody is perfect. What seemed like the aha! that’s what is wrong got posted and dag nab it still not fixed.

    And we’re going to just move along past those who could not relate to there being a mistake, and how much they did not appreciate someone’s honest effort to correct the mistake, for free.

    Back to our hero, Leo. Having found the solution that worked, posted again and was humbleproud in saying fixed, really. Leo – thanks for the extra effort. You are making the world a better place, one story at a time (with some repeats).

    Suggest charging the standard unsub fee to all those who don’t get it. 🙂

    Reply
  20. Hallo Leo,
    Nice work you dealing with the herd of gremlins. I would like to know how they got in, what they did, and what you did to get rid of them.
    It seems to be a complex which even made the webpage unobtainable for some time .

    OK,
    Tony

    Reply
  21. Third time worked for me! Thank you for your tenacity. As for the trolls who didnt get it, they obviously have issues beyond your (or my) control. Thanks again for your hard work.

    Reply
  22. Hey Leo, you’re da man!
    You got it fixed through caring and perseverance. What did our parents teach us? Slow and steady wins the race.
    You won, congratulations and thanks.

    Reply
  23. I got this : «IŒ ŒmovedŒ ŒtoŒ ŒCanadaŒ ŒfromŒ ŒElŒ ŒSalvadorŒ ŒaŒ ŒfewŒ ŒyearsŒ Œago.Œ ŒElŒ ŒSalvadorŒ ŒisŒ »
    I don’t know what is causing all of those Œ to frame each and every words.

    Reply
  24. re; #896 Got it also. Looked down and played the pod cast as I am always looking fwd. to Gary and Leo’s podcast. Brings to mind another creator I Believe has had a seat at your podcast info hour,, in the past. “Ken Gagnon” (sp) From Leominster, MA. ‘Boston area’
    area.. He is writing and presently in ? central California on a around the USA spending time and visiting with friends along the way
    May I say, Thank you for these and other thing to help we seniors with so many things you cover. “Restoring Faith in Humanity” being a Key, as most help me flush the dust from my Senior Eyes.. Keeps me informed and grounded. Alan

    Reply
  25. When I got this story at first, I didn’t know what to make of it and then figured out there were extra characters before each word. So, I took it as a challenge to be able to read it which I did. It only took twice as long as usual. It was actually nice to have to work at something for once. My brain used to be smart.

    Reply
  26. It’s nice to see it fixed… but honestly I was able to read it in the previous two iterations too. I just looked on it as exercise for my brain.

    Reply
  27. When the extra characters appeared again in the ‘fixed’ issue, I just knew there was a serious glitch deep inside someplace. You found it as we knew you would. Gotta keep interesting things happening, makes life good. You probably will discover the why too. Keep up the good work

    Reply
  28. Thank you for all you do.
    I have been enjoying Heroic Stories since Mrs. Showalter was editor.
    I have been fortunate to have been part of a family that believes in doing good for it’s own sake.
    It was pretty common to hear someone offer repayment to my parents or grandparents and almost always the answer was, “just pass it on.”
    Sometime back I recounted (in my Mom’s presence) a rather involved effort she had made to give a doll to one of my 3rd grade friends who had never owned a doll before. Mom said she didn’t remember doing that. And that’s what so many of your stories show – people who do such kind things so automatically that the only lasting memories are those of the recipients or the bystanders.
    Yes, good people do exist. They just aren’t showy about it.
    Thank you for taking the time to show them to us.

    Reply
  29. This version was fixed for me. However, I’ve been having to read the webpage version for a while, since my monitor screen is only 13″ wide and the edges of the email don’t quite fit. I don’t know whose “fault” that is, but I don’t mind making an extra click.

    Reply

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