One slow afternoon at the café, a man walked in and asked me for some money. My first reaction was sharp. I looked him in the eye and said, “Why don’t you have a job? Nothing comes for free, you know.”

He paused, then quietly told me something I hadn’t expected: “I have a lot of felonies. No one will hire me because of that. So, I’ve had to turn to the streets—asking for money or sometimes stealing. It’s the only way I know to survive.”

His honesty hit me harder than I thought it would.

That day, we were short-staffed, and a thought crossed my mind. I looked at him and asked, “Do you want to work? I have a job for you.”

His face brightened instantly, a smile breaking through years of struggle. “I’ll do anything for some food,” he said.

And that was just the beginning.

For the past two weeks, he’s been showing up on time for his two-hour shifts. He’s taken out the trash, washed dishes, and done whatever needs doing—without complaint, with a quiet determination that I’ve come to deeply respect.

But the best part? When I paid him, he walked over to the counter, bought his own meal, and paid for it himself. I gave him a discount, but he insisted on paying. The pride in his eyes told me he wasn’t just feeding his body—he was feeding his soul.

This story isn’t about charity. It’s about dignity. It’s about recognizing that behind every ask for help is a person with a story, sometimes broken, but still hopeful.

We shouldn’t judge people because they ask for money. We don’t know their battles, their pain, or their fight to survive. Sometimes, all someone needs is a chance—a real, honest opportunity to stand on their own two feet.

God has blessed me with more than I deserve, so why not pass that blessing on?

So today, let’s all try to do something kind. It doesn’t have to be big. Sometimes, it’s just giving someone a job, a smile, or a second chance.

If we want the world to change, it starts with small actions like these.

Let’s make kindness go viral. Let’s make a difference.