A homeless man received some money from a girl at a lemonade stand and it changed his whole life. Years later, he returned to her home to find that the girl was now a struggling mother. So he decided to repay her kindness in some other way.
“There are many ways people become homeless. You don’t think that the choices you make when you’re young, the people you hang out with, or your actions can ruin your life. But they can,” I said with a sigh and sipped some lemonade.
“I was a jerk as a teenager and even worse as an adult, and then I was alone, lost, in pain and left out by everyone who used to love me. I lost everything and now I’m here and it’s like I can’t get out of here…”
After a few more minutes, I finished my pitiful tirade and the glass of lemonade that a little girl had offered me for free at her little stand. I told her I was homeless and she asked why. I’m sure she wasn’t expecting the diatribe I recorded. But well, what can you do?
“Money…money is the worst thing. It’s already a huge problem in my life, especially now,” Penelope revealed, which made me frown.
“Here,” I heard her small voice and turned around, “take it.”
My eyes wandered to her hands, which held a wad of money. “That’s your money,” I shook my head.
“You need it more than I do,” the girl insisted, shrugging. “Use it to change your life. Mommy says that a little money can make you do good things. I don’t know if that’s true, but I hope this helps.”
I stared at this bundle of notes for a while, but finally took it. I went to my usual place in an alley and slept while thinking about what to do with it. Normally I’d spend it quickly if I ever got my hands on some cash. But something about these banknotes stopped me from my typical behavior. I couldn’t just spend them like that. They had to mean something. I had to change my life.
I did it.
***
Twenty years later, I was a completely different person. I had found someone who would let me work in construction and rent me a room for almost nothing. It was a godsend. I worked hard without deviating from my ultimate goal. I finally graduated from high school and went to community college. Eventually I became the owner of a construction company and made more money than I could ever have imagined.
I got married and had a son. But I never spent the 100 euros the little girl gave me. I found them in a random drawer at home one day and thought about finally using them. I still couldn’t. So I got in my car and drove to her house, surprising even myself as I remembered where she lived.
It was a quiet area in northern Bavaria and I wondered if she would be there. After all, it was her parents’ house. But I thought I would ask.
To my shock, she opened the door. “Can I help you?”
I cleared my throat and explained what had happened in the past as best I could. She looked at me confused, but then she nodded. “I think I remember. I was saving for a bike or something. But I gave you all my money,” the woman said. “What are you doing here?”
“Actually, I was hoping to return the money,” I continued, reaching into my pocket to pull out the bills. “I never used it. It’s the same bills and everything. But that money changed my life. It pushed me like you said.”
“Why don’t you come in?” she offered. “By the way, my name is Penelope.”
“Mark,” I said and entered. We talked for a long time, drank lemonade – if you can believe it. But eventually she sighed and looked down at the bundle of notes I had placed on her coffee table.
“Money…money is the worst thing. It’s already a huge problem in my life, especially now,” Penelope revealed, which made me frown.
“What’s up?”
She told me her little daughter was sick and she had no insurance. She had to move back to this house with her parents because her daughter’s father had left.
We’re getting deeper and deeper into medical debt and it’s a hole I don’t think I’ll ever get out of. My daughter needs surgery now but I have to start paying or they won’t do anything,” she explained , looking at me apologetically, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to burden you with my problems. I mean, you probably had it worse than me. Others always have it worse. I should be thankful.” deeper and deeper into medical debt and it’s a hole I don’t think I’ll ever get out of. My daughter needs surgery now but I have to start paying or they won’t do anything,” she explained, looking at me apologetically, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to burden you with my problems. I mean, you probably had it worse than me. Others always have it worse. I should be thankful.”
“Yeah, I’ve had a bad time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t feel what you’re feeling,” I assured her, and after a few minutes I said goodbye , but that doesn’t mean you can’t feel what you’re feeling,” I assured her, and after a few minutes I said goodbye.
The 100 euros were not enough repayment. I knew what to do. I sent her a check and a letter explaining what it was and asked her to accept it. She did it because her daughter was more important. The 100 euros were not enough repayment. I knew what to do. I sent her a check and a letter explaining what it was and asked her to accept it. She did it because her daughter was more important.
She emailed me back and shared how well her girl was doing and how the surgery had changed her life. After reading those words, I knew my debt was finally settled. Yes, technically I gave her more money than she ever gave me, but she changed my life with her kindness. I was sure that her daughter would become as selfless as she was, and the world needed more people like Penelope. She emailed me back and shared how well her girl was and how the surgery had changed her life. After reading those words, I knew my debt was finally settled. Yes, technically I gave her more money than she ever gave me, but she changed my life with her kindness. I was sure that her daughter would become as selfless as she was, and the world needed more people like Penelope.
What can we learn from this story? What can we learn from this story?
You should try to repay the kindness you receive. Mark searched for the girl years later and discovered the best way to repay her compassion from the past.
A selfless gesture can change someone’s life. The little girl didn’t think much about giving away all her money, but it was a life-changing decision for Mark.
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