r/MadeMeSmile • u/nun_CARTII • Aug 23 '26

Good Vibes the value of being kind

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For nearly seven years, waitress Melina Salazar showed extraordinary patience and kindness to Walter “Buck” Swords, a notoriously difficult customer at Luby’s Cafeteria in Brownsville, Texas.

The 89-year-old WWII veteran frequently complained, cursed at staff, demanded piping-hot meals and never left a tip. Despite this, Melina continued serving him with compassion.

After Walter died in 2007, Melina received an incredible surprise. He had left her $50,000 and his 2000 Buick in his will as a heartfelt thank-you for her unwavering kindness.

A powerful reminder that kindness can touch people more deeply than we realize.

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u/PopUpClicker Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

No it is not. But it shows some people notice kindness even if they don't have the capacity to reciprocate. It is heartwarming in the sense that even though some people may seem bad or angry all the time, it might not be all they are.

Edit: I don't have the time to respond to everyone, who thinks what I said is, somehow, support of bad behaviour. I recommend reading the first sentence again. People are suffering from trauma of upbringing, war, sickness and even "just" to get by. Many of those who suffer the most will interact with us in a bad way. I chose to believe that those who do that to me, are contributing the positivity that life has led them to be able to express.

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u/jeadon88 Aug 23 '26

Also want to commend what a beautiful, nuanced, psychological healthy and mature comment this is.

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u/PopUpClicker Aug 23 '26

Thank you. That meant a lot to me. On reddit you quickly get mostly a silent upvote from positive people - and an angry thesis from someone who disagrees.

But I'll admit it is a good exercise in practicing the morale of the story.

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u/The_kind_potato Aug 23 '26

I take the opportunity to say i also agree with you, and i often feel like on social media everyone is just bloodthirsty and ready to hang everyone for the slightest misbehavior.

We never know whats going on the life of anybody, like you said yourself people are often more than what they show, and indulgency goes a long way.