Believe in Humanity and Do Little Acts of Kindness
"Good Morning" said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.
The man slowly looked up.
This
was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life.
Her coat
was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.
His
first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many
others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....
To his amazement, the woman continued standing.
She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically.
"I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily.
"I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered.
"I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The
officer scratched his head.
"That's old Jack. He's been a fixture
around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are
you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted.
"I don't want to go in
there!"
Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.
"Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
" This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."
Finally,
and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack
into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.
It was the
middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left
and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...
The
manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.
"What's
going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in
trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily.
"Having a person like that here is bad for business.."
Old
Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll
let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The
woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....
"Sir, are you
familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently.
"They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, Sir, am Penelope Eddy, President and CEO of the company."
"Oh."
The
woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference."
She
glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle.
"Would you like to
join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, mam. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel,
"I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away.
"You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest.
She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes.
"I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm
a little older perhaps," she said.
"Maybe I've even filled out more
than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that
very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?"
the officer said questioningly.
He couldn't believe that such a
magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I
was just out of college," the woman began.
"I had come to the city
looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to
my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.
I walked the
streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I
saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get
something to eat."
Jack
lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said..
"I was behind the
serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for
something to eat.
I said that it was against company policy."
"I
know," the woman continued.
"Then you made me the biggest roast beef
sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to
go over to a corner table and enjoy it.
I was afraid that you would get
into trouble...
Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my
food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all
right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I
got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started
my own business that, with the help of God, prospered."
She opened her
purse and pulled out a business card..
"When you are finished here, I
want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of
my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something
for you to do around the office."
She smiled. "I think he might even
find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some
clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet...
If you
ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes.
"How can I ever thank you?" he said.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered.
"To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus.... He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On
the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered.
"Thank you. I saw a miracle
today, something that I will never forget.
And..And thank you for the
coffee."
Don't forget that when
you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be
returned to you..
Life is an Echo
What you send out- comes back.
You Reap What You Sow !!!
So Spread Kindness
Have a Blessed Day &
Remember to be a Blessing to Others...
