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A glass of Milk, paid in Full

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.

He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”

“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.”

He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Year’s later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.

She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:

“Paid in full with one glass of milk.

Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.”

Author Unknown

{ 329 comments… add one }
  • Bobby April 30, 2012, 3:35 pm

    God who is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.

  • L.R. SHORI April 26, 2012, 2:36 am

    An excellent story

  • Mukund April 24, 2012, 10:02 am

    A very interesting story.

  • Krunal April 23, 2012, 3:47 am

    We never know who will help us back and when so respect all the people.

  • Loveraj April 21, 2012, 4:46 am

    Heart touching story.

  • JAGGU April 18, 2012, 6:37 am

    Kelly, it is a dam good story.

  • Ogay Monye April 16, 2012, 4:25 am

    Wow! This’s an amazing one. It inspires me to show kindness to everybody irrespective of his/her status

  • Addy Homez April 14, 2012, 10:37 am

    Wonderful story, I liked it a lot.

  • Shashi April 13, 2012, 6:53 am

    Really touches everyone’s hearts, We should not wait for grattitude..as said by Dr Pramod Arora, we have to help others to show our humanity not to deserve any help from them and should pray for one, who helped us, the great deed we do will definately returns a better thing neither to us nor to our beloved ones, but don’t wait for that as proverb says: I see you with the same EYES as i see GOD, truly worth for reading this, Thanks again…!

  • Masooma April 8, 2012, 12:18 pm

    Awesome story 🙂

  • Nurul April 1, 2012, 5:36 am

    This is a very great story 🙂

  • Neha March 31, 2012, 11:39 am

    Very Touching Story.. Filled my eyes with tears.. Good deeds always fetch good returns..

  • J.S. Falohun March 30, 2012, 2:00 pm

    Lesson: parents, teach your children the act of kindness. Children do not forget your parents’ teaching. There is a reward for every act of kindness you show to someone. The reward may come when & where you never expect.

  • Rocio March 29, 2012, 1:01 am

    1. Yes, I think that I always feet a spiritual and flawless breath in my heart because I believe in God and I think that is the best of the world.

    2. Yes, I think that if this story is known by a lof of people they would change their mind for a good one because is a real story where we can see God’s hand, and we can see that if I am a good person my God will give us a salvation.

  • Amrutha March 22, 2012, 12:29 am

    Nice story 🙂 Heart touching.

  • Anne March 21, 2012, 5:23 pm

    Nice bravo 🙂 Thank u God.

  • Tzarina Gica March 21, 2012, 3:33 am

    The story is so touching…..almost made me cry….

  • Janitha March 16, 2012, 5:30 am

    Every time I read this story I am inspired more.

  • Carole March 15, 2012, 2:33 pm

    Truly a story of compassion….

  • Emmanuel Olatunji Alonge March 13, 2012, 7:07 am

    I am humbled. Life is a product of what you do to others for certainly one day it would come back to you in a magnificent medium you never expect.

  • Shrinath March 13, 2012, 5:47 am

    I have read this story many times.. It’s very inspiring and promting each one to serve for the humanity. I went through many comments too.. We come across many such opportunities in our life but often fail to make proper use of it.. When such an opportunity is presented by God it’s better that we use it.

  • Ifeanyi chris. March 9, 2012, 8:26 am

    So good to be real. It’s worth it when we show kindness. Tomorow may never be yours to give, maybe to recieve. But when you don’t deposit, how do you withdraw? Start thinking and acting.

  • Raheem March 8, 2012, 2:55 am

    Thank you for teaching me without payment. I will teach hundreds of my students.

  • Rei Kobayashi February 29, 2012, 5:29 am

    A nice story.. it is a MUST read… you MUST read it..:D 😀 :D… meaningful story.

  • Alfran February 24, 2012, 10:28 am

    AMEN… GLORY TO GOD… thank you for sharing a meaningful story…

  • KUMAR February 24, 2012, 4:14 am

    very nice one……..

  • Vann February 21, 2012, 3:29 am

    It’s a good story !! I very like it.. The best moral story ever after !!! 😀

  • Rubana February 17, 2012, 3:28 am

    It was a small act of giving, but it changed this man’s life, filling him with so much of hope that he became a doctor even! same way the story is very short, maybe the shortest there is on this website.. but it has touched me a hundered fold..

  • Funmi February 15, 2012, 12:42 pm

    A little kindness speaks in later years. It’s really good to show kindness no matter how little

  • Petro February 14, 2012, 11:59 pm

    The Best moral story ever!

  • Kishan Giri February 14, 2012, 5:30 am

    It’s such a motivational story. You get what you do to others. Service to mankind is what this story gives us knowledge. U get what u do..

  • KAYAL February 9, 2012, 8:12 am

    GREAT NICE AMAZING PERFECT BEAUTIFULL KNOWLEDGE WOWWWW

  • Lakshmi February 7, 2012, 1:34 pm

    Its really heart touching story thanks Annie 🙂

  • Shan February 6, 2012, 9:45 pm

    What goes around comes back around.

  • Mayor Queen February 5, 2012, 2:52 pm

    Life is definitely unexpected.

  • Mizu January 31, 2012, 3:34 am

    Nowadays that children have almost forgotten the golden values, articles like this must be presented to them. This story allows the reader to reflect then resolute hindrances in life with kindness.

  • R K Moorthy January 30, 2012, 11:59 am

    Always be kind to fellow human beings

  • Daphne Dwritewell Williams January 29, 2012, 4:32 am

    Amazing story, I love it. Karma at its best. Keep posting great valuable content.

  • Joyshree January 20, 2012, 5:12 am

    Truly touching story 🙂

  • Ruraj January 11, 2012, 12:17 pm

    This opportunity is very rare that you can help the same person who has helped you earlier, only the very lucky one gets this opportunity!

  • Prasad Jachak January 8, 2012, 12:25 pm

    Beautiful and strong moral story…

  • Norma January 6, 2012, 2:10 am

    Kindness will always come back in much, much fold. I was teary eyed reading the story. The kindness of the lady & Kelly is scarce nowadays. I resolve to be more kind…

  • Brian Low January 4, 2012, 2:10 pm

    Amazing story 🙂 love it

  • Sherl January 1, 2012, 1:11 am

    WOW. Really made my day thanks.

  • shree December 27, 2011, 3:12 am

    It is an lovely story but the way jess n jeny explained it that was nice and inspiring too .

    thank you

  • Anamika Sharma December 26, 2011, 10:12 am

    Really nice…………….but the ending could have been done more suitably.

  • Hassen Asmara December 23, 2011, 7:35 am

    What a splendid story! Many years ago my friend From Australia the late Janice D Aloia shared this story with me and is still in my memory. Very educationl. These days the morality of most us is getting weaker and weaker and such stories are important cos they give great lessons, for the people who understand.

  • Vinay December 19, 2011, 2:24 am

    Awesome

  • Saba Hussain December 18, 2011, 12:28 pm

    The best story I have ever read….so touchy…love it….

  • Senior Amuri December 3, 2011, 6:37 pm

    Nice one!

  • Jonathan Lkr. November 27, 2011, 8:29 am

    The work of Charity is like depositing money to the bank of God, He keep in interest for us and one day he will pay it back to us. Thanks for meaningful story.

  • Manikandan November 25, 2011, 5:00 am

    Good story

  • Lyka November 21, 2011, 2:14 am

    It was such a good lesson for me and to everyone! I was very touched and enlightened as the poor boy was. ! God is POWERFUL..!

  • Shiv Shankar November 19, 2011, 2:09 pm

    Very good and heart touching story.. as you sow, so shall you reap… very inspirational story.

  • Marquee November 18, 2011, 12:37 am

    Kindness has a price that anyone can afford to give and have. We should not be selfish about it for if we give, we can receive as well. This story will always remind us that even a little act of kindness can make or cause a huge difference in a person’s life.

  • Motivational Speaker November 17, 2011, 11:59 pm

    Such a heartwarming story. It really goes to show that when helping others even by the little things you can be rewarded tenfold.

  • Gaurav November 14, 2011, 6:45 am

    God is merciful.

  • Isha November 9, 2011, 7:51 am

    Very good & inspiring story. Really good one.

  • Shekhar November 5, 2011, 11:59 am

    It is a great inspiring story for me as a trainer of Youth Work. I can cite this story as a example of humanity & kindness.

  • Govind October 29, 2011, 5:22 am

    nice … 🙂

  • Mahwash October 28, 2011, 12:10 am

    Awesome story. Everyone should have such a great heart.. KIDNESS IS ALWAYS REWARDED..

  • Jenny Doll October 21, 2011, 9:17 am

    Nice story, I like it. I love uuuuuuuuu

  • Jyothish kurumbathur October 19, 2011, 12:20 pm

    Very nice story. Please Try to share this stories with children.. It helps child to frame helping mind and kindness.

  • Chijindu October 11, 2011, 8:58 am

    Our prayer is that we wil leave to reap what we have sowed so from today sow good because you never know when you will reap.

  • Karthi October 11, 2011, 2:06 am

    Wow, greatly inspired, the doctor did not forget old favors in his life.

  • Balu October 8, 2011, 11:41 pm

    God is great

  • JC October 1, 2011, 5:55 pm

    I would have done the same thing.

  • Bany September 25, 2011, 5:54 am

    Great story to share.. very touching…

  • David September 21, 2011, 10:44 am

    All acts of kindness come back to you, some way, some how.

  • Anthony August 29, 2011, 9:25 am

    wow that’s a touching stroy

  • Maine August 26, 2011, 5:25 pm

    Great !! I really Love this story

  • Naveeng August 25, 2011, 8:23 am

    A good act of kindness. These acts make us more human. I love it.

  • Gaurav_Luthra August 20, 2011, 10:04 am

    I think this story will appreciate those who blindly help others. Very very Good story, I loved it!

  • Tuikorosam August 16, 2011, 6:31 pm

    Very nice story….teaches us to be kind everytime to everyone..thanks..

  • doreena August 8, 2011, 9:11 am

    Wow….! I’m speechless..xD

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