The old man sat, unshaven and in tattered clothes, shivering in the cold against a building corner. Days had passed since he last ate, and a kind-hearted woman passing by couldn’t turn a blind eye. She decided to treat him to a meal at a nearby restaurant. To her dismay, the restaurant owner refused to serve the elderly man and insisted they leave immediately. What happened next would leave everyone speechless! But who was this old man really?
On a chilly day, while walking through the streets, a woman caught a glimpse of an elderly gentleman sitting with his head bowed in a corner. He looked worn out, unshaven, and dressed in dirty clothing. Others hurried past him, paying no notice; he seemed just like any other person you’d see without shelter on the streets. But as she looked closer, the woman realized something was different. It was exceptionally cold that day, and the man only had a tattered coat and a hole-ridden blanket wrapped around him to keep warm.
Pausing in her tracks, she approached the old man: “Sir, are you alright?” she asked.
“No!” he replied with sarcasm. “I’ve just arrived from a meal with the president… now, leave me alone!” The woman smiled even wider. Suddenly, he felt her gentle touch under his arm.
“What are you doing, ma’am?” he demanded, annoyed. “I told you to leave me be!” Just then, a police officer came by: “Is there a problem here, ma’am?” he inquired.
“No problem, officer,” she responded. “I’m simply trying to help this elderly gentleman to his feet. Would you lend a hand, please?” The officer recognized him. “This is old Mr. John,” he said. “He’s been around these parts for years. What do you want with him?”
“What’s going on here, officer? Why have you brought this man into my restaurant?” the manager barked. “This lady wished to buy him some food,” the officer shot back.
The manager was livid, “Not here… having such a person in my restaurant is not good for business!” The old man chuckled. “See, ma’am? I told you this would happen. Now, I ask you to let me leave. I never wanted to be here!” The woman then turned to the manager, her smile unwavering, “Sir, do you see the company across the street?” “Of course,” the manager replied. “I know it well; they hold weekly meetings in one of our rooms.”
“And you earn good money from catering their events?” she asked. The manager, puzzled, replied, “Why do you ask?” “Well, sir,” she answered with a knowing grin, “I am the president of that company.”
Silenced, the manager had no reply. With a smile, she turned to the policeman: “Officer, care to join us for breakfast?” “No, thank you, ma’am,” he replied, “I’m on duty.” “Perhaps a takeout coffee then?” she offered. “Yes, thank you, a coffee would be nice,” he nodded. The manager hastily promised to prepare the coffee and left the scene. The officer commented, “You set him straight.”
“That wasn’t my intention,” she replied. “Believe it or not, I have a reason for doing all this.” Seated in front of the old man, she asked, “Do you remember me?”
The old man squinted, “I think I do… you seem familiar.” “I’ve aged a bit,” she continued, “but do you recall the day you worked here, and I walked through that door, freezing and starving?”
The policeman, skeptical, interjected: “Ma’am, really? A successful woman like you faced such hardship?” With a nod, she recounted her tale, “When I was young, just 20 years old, I came to this city seeking work, but no one hired me. Without a way to pay rent, I was evicted. I roamed the streets for days. It was February, I was freezing and nearly starving. Desperate, I came here hoping for a warm meal.”
The old man smiled, “I remember now… I was behind the counter. You asked if you could work a few hours for some food, but I had to tell you it was against restaurant policy.” “Yes,” she said softly, “but then you made me the largest roast beef sandwich I’ve ever seen, handed me a hot tea, and invited me to sit and enjoy. I feared you’d get into trouble.”
“So, how did you make it so high up?” he wondered.
“That very day, I got a job. I worked tirelessly to rise through the ranks. Eventually, I started my own company, which, with God’s guidance, thrived.” With that, she reached into her purse and pulled out a business card, pressing it into his hands. “Once you’ve eaten, come to my office and speak with this man. He’s the head of my HR department. I’m heading to talk to him now, and I’m sure he can find you a job. You might even get an advance to buy some clothes and rent a small room. And if you ever need anything, my door is always open for you.”
Tears brimmed in the old man’s eyes, “How can I ever thank you enough for all this?” “Don’t thank me,” the woman gently replied. “Thank God, for he brought us together today.”
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