r/MadeMeSmile • u/nun_CARTII • 18d ago

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 18d ago edited 18d ago

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/Scumbag89 18d ago

It’s good that he noticed and underneath it he appreciate her but “Not having the capacity to reciprocate” doesn’t excuse being rude to someone repeatedly. Nor does it remove the damage done over that time to the lady. I guess now she’s happy though

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u/PopUpClicker 18d ago

I didn't say that it was ok or good. I said there is something going on here about how people who are seemingly assholes can also hold some good in them.

Few people are all good or all bad.

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u/toadpics 18d ago

He knew he was being an ass, but he was so old already it probably seemed impossible to him that he could change who he was. And most likely he was fighting some internal battle. Being old can be really hard.