Ahn In-jeong
I had parked in front of a wall and was talking with a Zion member inside the car when another vehicle approached, seemingly to park behind us. Before long, our car jolted as if it had gone over a speed bump; the other car had bumped into ours. Startled, I got out to check the rear of the vehicle. Thankfully, there was no damage. Just to be safe, I called my husband and waited nearby. Soon, an elderly man, probably in his seventies or eighties, stepped out of the other car. Seeing him on such a stormy, windy day without an umbrella reminded me of my father.
I told him, “Sir, it’s pouring out here. You should take an umbrella.”
He pulled out his umbrella, but the gusty wind immediately flipped it inside out and even snapped a rib, creating a scene both frustrating and oddly comical. I handed him a spare umbrella from our car and said, “Sir, you bumped into my vehicle. I don’t see any damage, but I’m not an expert. My husband is on his way, so please wait a moment.” Shortly after, my husband arrived, inspected the car, and confirmed that everything was fine, bringing the situation to a close.
Later, I asked my husband, “Should we have filed an insurance claim?” He replied, “Over something so small? What matters is having a kind heart.”
A week later, as I was backing out, I felt an unsettling thud.
“Oh no! Did I hit something?”
I glanced from the rearview mirror to the side mirror and saw a truck parked dangerously close behind me. I pulled forward quickly and stepped out to check. Both vehicles appeared undamaged. Flustered, I slid back into the driver’s seat, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. My heart pounded like a child about to confess a mistake. Looking up, I noticed a man atop the parked truck, shifting cargo from one side to the other.
“Excuse me, sir. I think I might have bumped into your truck while backing up. Could you take a look and see if there’s any damage?”
He asked, “How’s your car?”
“It seems fine,” I replied.
“Well, if your car is fine, then everything should be all right.”
He was truly a thoughtful and gracious man. After apologizing, I kept thanking him and expressing my relief as I climbed back into the car.
As I drove away, I let out a sigh of relief, thankful that nothing had gone wrong. I remembered the elderly man, who must have been flustered when he bumped my car a week ago, and my husband’s gentle reminder to keep a kind heart. Could it be that my simple act of kindness had returned to me? I felt grateful.
A heart guided by kindness always finds its way back. Even moments that seemed like a loss are repaid through the generosity of others. God does not overlook such hearts. Once again, I see how the love and gentleness God places within us can bear fruit in our daily lives.
Even today, as I meet people, I pray that my words, expressions, and actions reflect a heart guided by kindness. May that heart softly touch someone’s moment, brighten their day, and continue to ripple outward.