One cold November evening, Greg, a tired 40-year-old construction worker, was heading home when he noticed a woman with a baby at the train station. She looked desperate and asked for money to get home. Though wary, Greg felt something genuine in her plea and, moved by compassion, gave her all the cash he had—his entire paycheck meant for his children’s education.
He took her and her son, Matthew, to eat first, where she introduced herself as Lily. She explained she’d lost her phone and wallet and had no way to get home. Despite his own struggles, Greg handed her the envelope with his savings, telling her to get home safely.
When he returned home and told his wife, Diana, she was shocked and worried. That night, Greg lay awake, unsure if he’d done the right thing.
The next day, a white limousine arrived outside his house. A man in a suit said he represented Lily—who, it turned out, was a once-successful businesswoman who’d recently fallen on hard times. She had been stranded after a failed business meeting where she lost her belongings.
Deeply moved by Greg’s selflessness, Lily wanted to thank him in a big way. She set up a scholarship fund for his children and included extra financial help for the family. Overwhelmed, Greg could barely believe it.
The man told him, “Sometimes, a small act of kindness is worth more than all the wealth in the world.”
As the limo drove away, Greg and Diana embraced, tearful and grateful. That one act of kindness had changed their lives forever.