It is often challenging, if not impossible, to comprehend why anyone would willingly choose to be homeless. Yet, the majority of us tend to view homeless individuals with disdain. However, Casey possesses a different perspective.
One day, as she was sitting in a Dunkin’ Donuts, Casey noticed a homeless man attempting to collect spare change from the street. Later on, to her surprise, the same man entered the coffee shop. He had only managed to gather a dollar.
Casey kindly offered to buy him a coffee and a bagel. Although hesitant at first, the man, named Chris, eventually accepted her offer. Casey went a step further and invited Chris to join her at her table. Astonished, Chris hesitantly joined her. During their conversation, Chris shared how people often looked down on him solely because of his homeless status.
He acknowledged that drugs had led him to his unfortunate circumstances, and he despised himself for it. Despite his hardships, Chris still clung to the dream of becoming a son his late mother would have been proud of. He carried a deep desire to honor her memory. Casey and Chris engaged in conversation for over an hour before Casey realized it was time for her to return to school.
As she prepared to leave, Chris asked her to wait a moment while he scribbled something on a worn, wrinkled piece of paper. He handed her the note, apologizing for his handwriting, and they parted ways.
Unfolding the paper, Casey discovered that her actions had gone far beyond simply feeding a homeless man. Written on the note were the words, “I wanted to kill myself today. Because of you, I no longer do. Thank you, beautiful person.” This experience served as a powerful reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness, a few compassionate words, or a simple smile can make an immense difference in someone’s life.
We must always remember this when encountering individuals who appear downtrodden or are not feeling their best. We never truly know the battles they are fighting. What remains certain is that every person in this world is equally deserving of love and compassion.
