Too Much Criticism, Too Little Gratitude

I was helping a friend plant a tree at the local park. She had planted twenty-three trees already, most of them without any help. The trees were donated by family members in remembrance of loved ones. While we were working, a woman approached us. I recognized her and assumed she was there to say thank you.

“Remember the tree you planted for me the other day?” she asked.

My friend nodded.

“You planted it too close to the road. It needs to be moved.” Then she turned and left.

I don’t think this woman was intentionally rude. She was probably distracted, or maybe she’d had a bad day, but, still — of the twenty-three trees my friend planted, only two people remembered to say, “Thank you.”

 — Teresa Bell Kindred, 
Kentucky Living (October 2000)

Incapable Of Being Grateful

A South African man surprised nine men who were robbing his home. Eight of the robbers got away, but the homeowner managed to shove one into his backyard pool.

After realizing the robber couldn’t swim, the homeowner jumped in to save him. Once out of the pool, the thief yelled to his friends to come back. Then he pulled a knife and threatened the man who had just rescued him.

The homeowner threw the thief back in the water.

 — Kashiefa Ajam, “Homeowner Threatened by the Robber He Saved,” Cape Times, 
Cape Town, South Africa (March 23, 2004)