I love chocolate. I find that a small bite of chocolate can put a big smile on my face. I also love being kind. I find that being nice to others has a way of putting on a smile on my face as well. When I read the story about Bob Williams, “The Candy Bar Man,” I could not help but smile.
Bob Williams is a 93-year-old man who lives in Long Grove, Iowa. Each Saturday, Bob makes his way to the local Dollar General. He buys a stack of Hershey’s Chocolate bars. These are not the small bars, mind you, these are XL chocolate bars. Bob then proceeds to give away his purchase. He always gives one to the cashier. He gives a chocolate bar to the person behind him in line. And then he leaves the store in search of others who will receive his kindness. Across town, Bob is greeted with smiles as The Candy Bar Man hands out his Hershey Bars for his community.
Bob has been giving away chocolate bars every Saturday for 11 years. He is a quiet man who has inspired his community to live out of kindness. As one person in Long Grove said, “I don’t think he realized the effect he has on people. He is teaching us all to pay it forward.”
The Hershey Company learned about “The Candy Bar Man” and his efforts to bless his neighbors with chocolate and kindness. They came to Long Grove and told Bob that they would keep his refrigerator stocked with Hershey bars, as many as he could give away.
The smallest acts of kindness make such a difference in our world. To make an effort to bless our neighbors, to go out of our way to put a smile on another person’s face can change a person, a community and even the world!
What simple act of kindness can you perform today? Are there others that you can you bless? You never know what one small gesture of grace kindness will do!
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
