A wild October night twenty years ago, I made a split-second choice that would change my life and the life of a stranger. I was on my way home from working late at a diner when I saw a man cold and wet under a bus stop. I pulled over right away and offered to give him a ride.
I didn’t know much about the man named James. Even though he was shy and quiet, his eyes showed that he was desperate and didn’t see any way out. I let him stay at my house, gave him a warm meal and dry clothes, and we talked. He was a stranger, but he was a person in need at that moment, and I was determined to help him.
I thought giving James a bus ticket and some money would help him get back on his feet the next morning. He thanked me very much, and I didn’t think I’d see him again. Life, on the other hand, often shocks us.
Twenty years later, someone knocked on my door. When I opened it, James was standing on my porch. He was wearing a sharp navy suit and holding a leather folder. He looked different, sure of himself and sure of himself. Still, when I looked into her eyes, I saw the same need and thanks that I had seen all those years ago.
James told me he had been looking for me for years because he wanted to thank me for being nice to him. He gave me the title to a house and said it was his way of saying thanks for giving him another chance. I felt so moved by his kindness that I couldn’t understand how big his gift was.
James told me about his trip when we sat down to talk. That bus ticket I gave him he used to get to a shelter, where he got help and support. He worked hard to build a business and was now helping people in his neighbourhood. I felt forgiven and thankful after reading his story. It touched my heart in ways I never thought possible.
That night’s storm brought James and me together, but it was our kindness and care for each other that spread thanks and giving. I knew I had been given a rare gift when I stood on my porch and watched James drive off. I got to see how my actions had changed someone’s life. That gift was something I knew I would always have with me.
