I was broke and had just received my food stamp card. At the store, I carefully picked about eight dollars’ worth of food. When I went to pay, I discovered there was only one dollar on my card. My stomach sank.
Embarrassed, I muttered something silly about leaving money on my yacht and tried to slip out unnoticed. At the door, a man stopped me, holding out a twenty-dollar bill. I blinked—stunned. I hadn’t dropped anything.
Later, I realized my original twenty was still in my wallet. He hadn’t returned anything—I’d been quietly given help, no questions asked.
It wasn’t just the money. It was the reminder that kindness exists, that even in the lowest moments, someone can restore hope.
