It was very cold outside when I saw a young man who was homeless trying to fix his shoes in front of a church. It broke my heart to see his worn-out coat and bald head out in the wind. As I thought about it, he looked up, and our eyes met. I knew I had to do something when I looked into his deep, brown, hollow eyes.
I slowly walked up to him and offered to help him with his shoes. After I helped him tie his shoes, he started to talk to me more freely. At first, my kindness seemed to surprise him. There was a café nearby where I bought him soup and tea and gave him my scarf to keep him warm. Before we went our separate ways, I wrote down my address and told him to come by if he ever needed help.
Since then, ten years have passed, and I often wonder if the young man has changed for the better. Then, one night, a police officer with a blurry picture showed up at my door. As I looked at the picture, memories came rushing back to me. The man on the steps of the church was it.
When the cop told me that he was the man I had helped years before, his eyes lit up. His thanks for my kindness gave him hope and made him want to get help. With help from his aunt and a pastor in the area, he beat his addiction, got a job, and finally became a police officer.
As I cried tears of joy down my face during our hug, I realised that our chance meeting had changed not only his life but also mine. His story made me realise that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference, and I promised to keep showing love and care to people who need it.
It only takes a blanket, a cup of soup, or someone to listen to change someone’s life for good.
