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The World is a Wonderful Place

A true story, happened in 1892 at Stanford University:

An 18-year-old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.

They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck and the boys began to work to make the concert a success.

The big day arrived. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1600, plus a cheque for the balance $400. They promised to honour the cheque at the soonest possible.

“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the $1600 and told the two boys: “Here’s the $1600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left”. The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.

It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being.

Why should he help two people he did not even know? We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think “If I help them, what would happen to me?” The truly great people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it’s the right thing to do.

Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were more than 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them. Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.

The head there was a man called Herbert Hoover — who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of foodgrains to feed the starving Polish people.

A calamity was averted. Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, “You shouldn’t be thanking me Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college. I was one of them.”

The world is a wonderful place. What goes around comes around!

Author Unknown
Related story: http://academictips.org/blogs/what-goes-around-comes-around/

hoover-and-paderewski
{ 40 comments… add one }
  • Duchess C. October 20, 2017, 3:27 am

    I’m touched. And inspired.

  • Rowena zarsuela pasco July 28, 2016, 1:29 am

    Your stories inspired me a lot, it’s guide me that whatever situation i have now God will provide..Thank you for sharing your story. From Philippines

  • Brenda Fernandes February 24, 2016, 8:30 am

    Dear Dr.Derrick,
    I praise and thank God for a wonderful person like you. Your true stories have surely steered the hearts of many I’m sure. Your zeal and enthusiasm for striving to make this world a better place, fills me with Awe of God.
    To me You are JESUS =LOVE. Your heart is full of compassion and mercy, you find deep joy and happiness in the faces of those whom you encounter and share happiness with. I know that joy- no bank balance can make up for the look in the faces of those less fortunate who are touched by LOVE.
    You spread joy and true happiness and truly joy and happiness is what you will surely receive in return hundred fold.
    You remind me of Jesus’ words, ‘Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me, when i was hungry you gave me to eat, when i was thirsty you gave me to drink, ween i was naked you clothed me, when i was in prison you visited me, now enter into the kingdom of God”.
    Thank You Lord for Dr. Derrick the shining star for us all.

  • Teddyjack April 8, 2015, 1:18 pm

    Thank you sir for u stories they are so inspiring

  • Vishal avinash 6th b June 2, 2014, 4:59 am

    I love it! So true that what goes around comes around. Really heart touching. Thank you very much for this story. It is a big help in my reading class to my students. I was touched by the story. It was totally amazing!Very true, whether it’s good or bad, it will return. Awesome, I wish the current world could behave like this. Thanks for sharing this wonderful truth. Wonderful. Please share more of real life experiences. Amazing story. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Sathish March 11, 2014, 9:25 am

    God is watching all our activities.

  • Monique Hutton October 11, 2013, 9:15 pm

    I love it! So true that what goes around comes around.

  • Dr. Derrick Angelsz October 1, 2013, 2:01 pm

    Dear Friends I would like to share an experience on faith & Love.

    Three years ago I was virtually living with the orphans on the street. These kids would mostly beg through the day to buy some food for themselves or eat the food given to them by the people. One remarkable incident happened during my second week of staying with them on the foot-path. I sat with them and shared the meal I had purchased for them from a nearby restaurant. They sat with me in a circle formation and happily started eating, suddenly one of them a twelve year old boy caught my wrist, looked at me and removed my watch to which I did not object nor said a word. This boy suddenly ran away with my watch, I continued eating the meal without turning around to see where this little boy ran away with my watch.

    After about a good forty-five minutes he turned up and sat besides me. I just looked at him and smiled without mentioning anything about the watch. This little boy removed a small piece of packet from his tattered pocket, opened it, had a bite of the stale bread and offered the same bread to me, I took it and ate the same bread willingly. As soon as I finished eating the bread a smile emitted on his face. Slowly he put his hand in his pocket and returned my watch. I smiled at him and wore my watch once again.

    This little boy later on told me that I passed the test, I was a bit surprised and asked him what test did I pass as I couldn’t recollect any incident of giving any kind of test. He told me that he took the watch and ran away to see my reaction and for that good forty-five minutes he was hiding and watching my expressions. I was simply quiet, then he told me that when I give them something to eat they eat happily so he wanted to see whether I too was happy eating what he gave me to eat.

    These kids I realized that they beg to take care of their hunger and not make riches out of it. They are hungry for love, trust and little bit of affection.

    Just for a day dear friends if you can make someone somewhere happy then please do it. We all need love now and forever.

    In peace with you,

    Dr. Derrick Angelsz

  • Stephen October 1, 2013, 11:57 am
  • Tenzin Dhondup October 1, 2013, 10:44 am

    Hi Dr. Derrick, thank you for sharing such wonderful feeling, it’s touching and make me feel confident.. My friends thank me for showing your such wonderful heart touching stories. Will be great if you keep on sharing such thing…… On behalf of Tibetans People, would like to say thank you and God bless.

    • Dr. Derrick Angelsz October 1, 2013, 12:36 pm

      Dear Tenzin, I sure will share all the experience I can. I am glad you are sharing it too and making this world a beautiful place to dwell. Kindly accept my gratitude for making me a part of your community and family. Regards to all in Tibet.
      Dr. Derrick Angelsz

  • Sangeetha August 27, 2013, 3:54 am

    Nice….

  • Swagathi August 6, 2013, 3:10 am

    Really heart touching.

  • Dr. Derrick Angelsz July 25, 2013, 9:04 am

    Dear Friends,

    Life is full of experiences we encounter everyday. A few things we need to remember everyday are:

    1. Love yourself so that you may share your love with everyone around.
    2. Give all you can so that you receive all that you want.
    3. Understand your loved ones rather than compromise with them.
    4. Your body is your temple – keep it clean and healthy.
    5. Share – It brings in lot of happiness.

    I thank all the readers for their kind words in the form of comments.

  • Karthika July 25, 2013, 4:36 am

    Heart touching stories shared, thank you Stephen and Dr. Derrick Angelsz.

  • A Gopinathan July 12, 2013, 12:51 am

    It is really touching …. Derrick!!!

  • Vineet Chauhan July 8, 2013, 11:05 pm

    So nice.. really inspiring and this story forced me to change myself….

  • Dr. Derrick Angelsz May 23, 2013, 1:18 pm

    Dear friends,
    We are the Masters of our destiny, whatever we want to be our thoughts followed by our deeds makes us! It is a very simple equation “Thought = Deed”

  • Roopapa May 23, 2013, 5:12 am

    What goes around comes around friends?

  • Roopapa May 23, 2013, 5:08 am

    Thank you very much for this story. Always we should think about the needing too, life is not what you do but is what you plan to become in future?

  • Dr. Derrick Angelsz April 16, 2013, 6:28 pm

    Dear friends,

    I am sharing with you an incident which opened the gate of love for the hungry. Today I had been sick since morning so my niece accompanied me to the meeting I had to attend in the South end of Bombay city.

    We both spent over 6 hours without having our meal and travelling in the heat of the concrete jungle.

    As soon as my meeting got through, I came out and was greeted by my niece with a bright smile with eyes wide open and her hand over her stomach indicating hunger. As we began our journey towards home I asked her what would she preferred to eat and immediately she shot back “Mc Donalds Chicken Burger.”

    I told her that the burger wouldn’t satisfy my hunger so it would be nice to have a proper lunch and that we can have the burger early evening later. She agreed and we both feasted on “Chicken Biryani” as we walked out and sat in the car she looked at me and suddenly exclaimed “Mc Donalds!?!

    I told her that we can surely go for one and before that I need to complete on of my self promise of the day (I set myself 5 things everyday I must do) She asked me what was it and I told her that I need to feed some needy hungry person for the day. She immediately agreed and in the same breath once again told me “After that we go to Mc Donalds” I promised I would take her immediately thereafter. She promised she would feed 5 hungry people with her pocket money of Rs 100/-.

    We reached a place called ‘Mahim’ to an area where the needy hungry are fed by the ones who can afford to feed them. We got down the car and approached the place where the hungry ones are fed.

    As she paid for the 5 people her eyes fell on the others waiting in hunger, she quietly removed her Rs 500/- and told the person giving food to feed 25 more of them, held my hand and rushed towards the car with her eyes filled with tears. I said nothing for a while and after a few moments of silence she shot back again “Mc Donalds”???

    I said yes sure let’s go right away. She stopped the car looked at me and said “A single Chicken burger costs me Rs 50/- add Rs 10/- and I get to add cheese to it, so Give me Rs 60/-”

    I just looked at her, she demanded Rs 60/- from me right away. I removed my purse and gave her Rs 60/-. She got down the car walked back and fed 3 more people and returned to car and told me “Now every time I feel like eating a Chicken Burger, I know, instead 3 people can eat one good meal. So next time am going to be here instead of “Mc Donalds!!!”

  • Jay April 15, 2013, 3:21 am

    Thank you very much for this story. It is a big help in my reading class to my students. I was touched by the story. It was totally amazing!

  • Margaret April 14, 2013, 1:58 am

    Hi Derick,

    Better late than never. Your story will reach to thousands of students I handle in my school now and as I move around the country.

    Your name and your story was not carried in the front pages of any National dailies, but I will give a coverage for it directly to the students. Remember those who listen atleast a few of them will follow in your footsteps. U R a great Human Being!

    Margaret Fernades

    • Dr. Derrick Angelsz April 14, 2013, 2:51 pm

      Dear Margaret
      Thank you for your kind words and A huge thank you for sharing it with all the students you can. Sharing helps us to make our societ sensitive to each others feeling and in return teaches us to respeect, share and live in harmony. Once again Thank you for your Blessings.
      Sensei Dr. Derrick Angelsz

  • Nirmal April 8, 2013, 6:38 am

    So true. Hope that all human-beings across the world realize this. The world would then become a wonderful place to live.

  • Vipin April 6, 2013, 3:32 pm

    Truly inspiring…. How dearly does our world miss these minda of kindness?

  • Murali Krishna April 4, 2013, 5:59 am

    Really very good story I really like it.

  • Mosopefoluwa April 1, 2013, 8:08 pm

    That little kindness may not pay off now but will surely pay off later; show kindness.

  • Swarup March 31, 2013, 12:19 am

    Heart rendering not because it is sad story but knowing the human can rise to the heights of selflessness but it is rewarded. It keeps me reminding about my role, to be human is not to err but fulfilling the destiny that is thurst upon you by the lord.

    Greatest statement of love -love thy neighbour as our self.

    Derriks sharing of the real life incident is eaqually inspiring. We should help imbibe children the sprit of sharing and giving. Wonderful. I read this posting and the sharing of Derrik on Easter-day. Very rewarding.

  • Abdullah Ramadan March 30, 2013, 9:20 am

    It is really great.

  • Madhav March 30, 2013, 8:10 am

    Amazing story. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Rohan March 30, 2013, 4:05 am

    @ Dr. Derrick Angelsz: It’s really nice real life experience that you have shared. Thank u for that.

    @ Moral Stories: It’s a great fortune for myself to have read this inspirational story. I would like to spread this word with everyone out there, “When u do something good, it will return back to u with many times bigger. God recites in everyone’s heart, Do Good, Feel Good” ..

  • Lino March 30, 2013, 3:54 am

    Dr. Derrick, my personnel feelings you should go to church more often make some time in your hectic schedule. Your self commitments towards others wonderful keep it up God Bless you abundantly.

  • Saurabh March 30, 2013, 12:42 am

    If everyone thinks or have courage like a child sure every person will create own destiny. “There’s a will there’s a way”.

  • Susan March 29, 2013, 2:55 pm

    Wonderful. Amazing. Thanks a lot for sharing. It is always useful for the human kind to remember and realize how wonderful human relationships are.

  • Dr. Derrick Angelsz March 29, 2013, 2:11 pm

    Dear friends, I would like to share with you (and the world) an incident that I experienced today 29/03/2013 at 8.00pm Indian Standard Time. The place was outside the gate of Sacred Heart Boys High School.

    Today being GOOD FRIDAY (My once in a year Church visit) I went to Sacred Heart Church – Santacruz west – Bombay – India. As soon as the communion was over, I made it a point to walk out of the main gate and go home.

    When I was out of the Church gate I saw 3 children selling boiled seeds so that the people coming out of the Good Friday Mass would buy the traditional boiled seed and compliment a part of the on going tradition.

    For some reasons, when I saw them my stomach stopped growling and my hunger pangs disappeared s if they never existed! I went and stood quietly next to them without saying a word and for the next 10 minutes watched them sell the seeds to the bargaining ‘customers’ (each seed packet costed Rs 5).

    My eyes caught the attention of one of the boys, I made a sign for him to come towards me. I was surprised that this little kid gave me a broad smile with a missing tooth and immediately came up to me.

    The first question I asked him was which school did he go to and he was in which class? He replied that he goes to a municipal school and was in class VI. The answer to my next question baffled me. I asked him very lightly whether he knows who I am and Immediately He Shot back with his eyes more brighter and wide open “Derrick Sir”!

    I was stunned for a moment and asked him how he knows me, he replied saying he is one of the child whose mother was helped by the Derrick Angelsz Foundation to be self equipped and runs independent tiffin business and now his mother looks after all her four children pretty decently.

    I felt good but at the same time a bit upset seeing him sell seeds, I asked him why is he selling seeds if his mother is taking care of all the four?

    He told me “Sir, you helped my mother and so now I am helping my friend, His mother is sick and father has a very low income and can barely afford medicines.”

    I was silenced! Recomposed myself and spoke to his friend and asked the same questions. He replied that he just appeared for his board exams and his father had low income so he was helping his father to earn extra money so that they can buy proper medicine for his mother.

    I immediately removed my purse and extended a thousand Rupee note to the boy. He immediately refused and said, “Sir you offered me help thank you very much, I will always remember you but please give this money to some other more needy person, I can earn, Sir today you will help me but tomorrow what will I do Sir?

    I apologized and removed my visiting card and gave him which he took happily. I turned back to get on my Storm and as I walked I could hear the ‘bargaining’ once again…

    As I was riding back home, I thought the priest said, “Forgive those who have hurt you as Jesus Christ forgave everyone,” he also said, “God sacrificed his only son for us.” There were almost 2000 people listening to the sermon including me and yet I heard the bargaining….

    Please do Share and do comment.

    Regards
    Sensei Dr. Derrick Angelsz

  • Dr. Derrick Angelsz March 29, 2013, 2:09 pm

    Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story. In fact just last week I was learning to accept the idea that “What goes around comes around” I will share my todays experience right away. Thank you.

  • Rama S March 29, 2013, 12:23 pm

    Wonderful. Please share more of real life experiences..

  • Carter Anmol March 29, 2013, 11:54 am

    Awesome, I wish the current world could behave like this. Thanks for sharing this wonderful truth.

  • Purushothaman March 29, 2013, 10:21 am

    Very true, whether it’s good or bad, it will return.

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