Foreword:
Kindnesscomesinmanyformsandcancomefromunexpectedsources.Itcanbeassimpleasasmile,ahelpinghand,orawordofencouragement.Thefollowingstoryisaboutayoungmanwhoexperiencedalife-changingactofkindnessfromastranger.Itwasacloudyafternoonintheheartofthecity.Thestreetswerebustlingwithpeoplegoingabouttheirdailyroutines.AmongthecrowdwasayoungmannamedTom,whowasstrugglingtomakeendsmeet.Hehadjustlosthisjobandwasfeelinghopelessabouthisfuture.Ashewalkeddownthestreet,hiseyescaughtsightofahomelessmansittingonthesidewalk.Themanhadasignthatread"AnythingHelps."Tomfeltapangofguiltasherealizedhowluckyhewastostillhavearoofoverhisheadandfoodtoeat.
Hewalkedpasttheman,notknowingwhattodo.Shouldhegivehimsomemoney?Woulditreallymakeadifference?Hekeptwalkinguntilhecameacrossasmallbakery.Thesmelloffreshlybakedbreadfilledtheair,andhecouldn'tresistgoinginside.Ashelookedatthepastriesinthedisplaycase,henoticedanoldladywhowasstrugglingtocarryhergroceries.Herbagswereheavy,andshewashavingtroublewalking.Tomimmediatelyofferedtohelphercarryherbags.Theladygratefullyacceptedhisoffer,thankinghimforhiskindness.Astheywalkedtowardsherhouse,sheaskedhimabouthislife.Tomtoldherabouthisrecentjoblossandhowuncertainhisfuturelooked.Theladylistenedintentlyandofferedsomewordsofencouragement.Shetoldhimthatsometimesthebestopportunitiescomewhenweleastexpectthem.HerwordsofwisdomgaveTomsomehope.
Astheyarrivedatherhouse,sheinvitedTominforacupoftea.Hehesitatedatfirst,notwantingtoimpose,butsheinsisted.Theysatdownatherkitchentable,andshepouredthemeachacupoftea.Astheysippedtheirtea,sheaskedhimabouthisinterestsandskills.Tomtoldherabouthispassionforcookingandhowhehaddreamedofopeninghisownrestaurant.Theladylistenedwithinterest,noddingherheadandsmiling.Afterfinishingtheirtea,shegavehimahugandwishedhimthebestofluck.Ashewalkedoutofherhouse,hecouldn'thelpfeelingtouchedbyherkindness.Shehadgivenhimhopewhenhehadnone.Feelinguplifted,Tomwalkedbacktowardsthebakery.Ashepassedbythehomelessmanagain,hefeltasuddenurgetohelphim.Hewalkeduptothemanandofferedhimapastryfromthebakery.
ThemanlookedupatTomwithsurpriseandgratitude.Hethankedhimandbegantoeatthepastry.Asheate,helookedupatTomandaskedhimwhyhewasbeingsokind.Tomthoughtforamomentbeforereplying.Hetoldthemanabouttheoldladywhohadjustgivenhimhopeandhowhewantedtopassonthatkindnesstoothers.Themansmiled,touchedbyTom'sgenerosity.AsTomwalkedawayfromthehomelessman,hecouldn'thelpbutfeelgratefulfortheexperience.Herealizedthatkindnesstrulydoesmakeadifferenceinpeople'slives,nomatterhowsmallitmayseem.Overthenextfewweeks,Tomcontinuedtolookforworkandsendoutjobapplications.Healsobeganvolunteeringatalocalsoupkitchenandhomelessshelter,tryingtogivebacktothecommunitythathadhelpedhimthroughhistoughtimes.
Oneday,hereceivedaphonecallfromanemployerwhowasinterestedinhiringhimasasouschefatalocalrestaurant.Tomcouldn'tbelievehisluck.Hehadbeengivenasecondchance,thankstothekindnessofothers.Hewenttotheinterviewandgotthejobonthespot.Hewasoverjoyed,knowingthathisdreamofopeninghisownrestaurantwasonestepcloser.Ashewalkedoutoftherestaurant,herememberedtheoldladywhohadgivenhimhopeandthehomelessmanwhohadbeentouchedbyhisgenerosity.Herealizedthateverythinghadhappenedforareason.Afewmonthslater,Tomhadsavedupenoughmoneytostarthisownsmallrestaurant.Hecalledit"TheUnexpectedTouchofKindness,"inhonoroftheoldladywhohadgivenhimhopeandthehomelessmanwhohadinspiredhimtogivebacktoothers.
Therestaurantquicklybecameapopularspotintown,knownforitsdeliciousfoodandwarmatmosphere.Tomwasgratefulforallthesupporthehadreceivedfromhiscustomersandthecommunity.Oneday,hereceivedasurprisevisitfromtheoldladywhohadgivenhimhopeallthosemonthsago.ShecamewithagroupoffriendsandpraisedTomforhishardworkanddetermination.Hethankedherandgaveherahug,feelinggratefulforeverythingshehaddoneforhim.Ashelookedaroundathissuccessfulrestaurant,herealizedthatkindnesstrulydoesmakeadifferenceinpeople'slives.Ithadgivenhimhopewhenhehadnone,andithadinspiredhimtogivebacktoothers.Hevowedtocontinuespreadingkindnessinanywayhecould,knowingthatithadthepowertochangelives.Theunexpectedtouchofkindnesshadtransformedhislife,andhewasgratefulforeverypersonwhohadplayedapartinit.
