Small, random acts of kindness often make the biggest impact. Earlier this week, Josh Abbott, lead singer of the Josh Abbott Band, experienced this first hand while shopping at Target.

While in line paying for his items, Abbott received a $5 gift card back from the purchase he made. Rather than keeping the card for himself, Josh turned around and gave it to the person standing behind him. The lady that received the card subsequently burst in to tears. Abbott shared with local Lubbock, TX news station, KCBD, that he recognized this look.

“It was the same look my mother had when I was a kid and we were dirt poor and others helped our family financially.” Josh proceeded to hand her $100 to help her out. The lady is a single mother as well as a teacher and going throughout a hard year.

“I guess you just never know what someone is going through, and the kindness of strangers always wins the day” Josh says. “I’ve made some wrong choices in my life, and I don’t believe good deeds necessarily balance it out, but I do believe in trying.”

“I hope this message comes across as humbly and authentic as it is intended. It is because of all of you supporting our music that I’m able to help others in the first place. So thank you all!”

I rarely post “good deeds” because I feel they can come across as “boastful” (Matthew 6:1), but in the hopes of encouraging you to help others, here goes: While checking out at Target, I received a $5 gift card for a future purchase so I handed it to the lady behind me. She immediately teared up and couldn’t believe it. I recognized that look; it was the same look my mother had when I was a kid and we were dirt poor and others helped our family financially. So I knew to help her more. I handed her a $100 bill and said her items were on me this time. She bawled. She’s a single mother who is a teacher and said this year has been hard. I guess you just never know what someone is going through and the kindness of strangers always wins the day…I’ve made some wrong choices in my life, and I don’t believe good deeds necessarily balance it out; but I do believe in trying. I hope this message comes across as humbly and authentic as it is intended. It is because of all of you supporting our music that I’m able to help others in the first place. So thank you all!

A photo posted by @joshabbottband on


Stay connected with Josh and the Josh Abbott Band by visiting www.joshabbottband.com.