We all like a good feel-good story, and given how life has been dishing out so many lemons to most of us, we thought this amazing story from 2015 would be just what everyone needed to lift their spirits! Kindness can take many forms, and sometimes it takes the kindness of a stranger to improve our lives.

On a typical day, Casey Fischer was on her way to Dunkin Donuts for a cup of coffee. Casey had no idea what was about to happen would have such a long-term impact on her life and the lives of others.

A homeless individual

Casey entered the store after witnessing a homeless man outside collecting change.

“Even though I saw him walk into Dunkin’ Donuts and count his change to buy something, I became irritated and began talking to him repeatedly, even when he didn’t want to talk.” Because he only had $1 in his pocket, I bought him a coffee and a bagel and invited him to sit with me.”

Casey ended up sitting for over an hour with the homeless man, who introduced himself as Chris. We talked about life and how he became homeless and on the streets.

He told me about how people are usually very cruel to him because he’s homeless, how drugs transformed him into the person he despised, how he lost his mom to cancer, how he never saw his father, and how he just wants to be someone his mother would be proud of…

Casey had to return to class, but Chris handed her a crumpled-up piece of paper before she left. They said their goodbyes as she accepted the paper.

Changing a person’s life

Casey had no idea what she was about to read, or how Chris would react to her modest act of kindness. As she opened the paper, Casey read something profound and excruciatingly painful:

Because of you, I no longer want to commit suicide. Thank you, lovely lady.

Always be considerate.

Casey shared her tale on her Facebook page, where it was seen by hundreds of people, urging them to always be kind. Many others shared their own stories, some of whom were homeless…

I’ve been homeless since last year, and I spent two weeks living beneath a 275 bridge.

“I am now in a program at the Salvation Army; I am doing better now; I just got a job today and will start tomorrow; I am not proud of how I ended up here, but I am getting myself out of it by the grace of God.”

“All I ask is that you pray for the homeless and be kind.”

Gary Edelmann Jr. mentioned how she had ultimately altered her situation.”

“I left an abusive situation and was homeless for almost three years without my two children. I got a job, my own place and my children were returned to me.” I am now a single mother of four, and while I am struggling, I am doing well and moving forward.”

Goldstein, Jo
It is not difficult to choose to be kind because we never know what someone else is struggling with or going through. One small act of kindness, such as buying someone a cup of coffee and listening to them, has the potential to impact their life forever.