A Rich Woman Helps A Homeless Man For A Beautiful Reason
GodUpdates Contributor
February 07, 2016
A Rich Woman Helps A Homeless Man
Kindness is like a boomerang -- it comes back to you. In a story making the rounds on Facebook, a rich woman helps a homeless man. But it's not just because she's a nice lady. No, there's a very specific reason that this particular rich woman helps this particular homeless man. And it's a great lesson for all of us. Read on to discover the motivation behind the woman's good deed. . .Like many inspiring movies and books, this short story may be fictional. However, the impact that this work will have on its readers is very real. Enjoy!
Credit: ThinkStock "Good morning," said a woman as she walked up to a man sitting on a bench. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. [rsnippet id="3" name="Article-Ad"] His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled. . . To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling. . .her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. Credit: ThinkStock "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it." Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. . . The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this? Is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a godly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" "I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently... "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so - I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. [rsnippet id="2" name="ArticleAd-300x250-3"] "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons... He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you." There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said. "Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus...... He led me to you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.... "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.. And thank you for the coffee."
While Penelope Eddy is, in fact, a real person, it's unclear as to whether or not the story above truly happened. But even as a fictional account, the lesson is just as real. By blessing others, you too will be blessed. Even something seen as a small act at the time -- something later forgotten by the giver -- just might be a blessing someone else will never forget. Kindness is contagious, so get out there and spread some!
"Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it." Proverbs 11:25-26 "Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6
See what nurses were surprised to find after one man passed away in the nursing home.
h/t: FacebookSee what this nun stumbled upon when praying in the woods!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Be Faithful and Obedient with Your Finances - Your Daily Prayer - February 5
When the budget is tight and the pressure feels endless, this prayer helps you lean on God’s wisdom and trust His provision in every financial decision.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Be Faithful and Obedient with Your Finances - Your Daily Prayer - February 5
When the budget is tight and the pressure feels endless, this prayer helps you lean on God’s wisdom and trust His provision in every financial decision.
Past Stories
February 2026
- 15 Comforting Christian Songs for a Death or Tragedy
- What This Waitress Leaves For These Tired Firefighters Is So Touching I Cried!
- Woman Gives Birth Without Knowing She Was Pregnant, Leaving Her and Her Husband in Awe
- One Small Act of Kindness at a Pharmacy Led to an Unexpected Blessing
- After Years of Waiting and Loss, This Couple’s Path to Parenthood Took a Beautiful Turn
- 200 Hamburgers, Endless Smiles: Shelter Dogs Get a Feast They’ll Never Forget
- Meeting God in The Quiet
January 2026
- What Began as a DNA Test Became a Father-Son Reunion Years in the Making
- A Simple Flea Market Visit in Kentucky Leads to an Incredible Family Reunion With the Past
- She Found a Lost Wallet on the Subway, Not Knowing How Returning it Would Change Her Life
- Supercentenarian Celebrates Her 111th Birthday and a Life Well Lived With Family and Friends
- Finding Love Again at 78, This Loving Couple Met at Church and Married Four Months Later
- Siblings Are Heroes After Saving Their Bus Driver and Keeping the Other Kids Calm
- Brave Father Runs Back Into Burning Home to Rescue His Daughter From House Fire
- The Power of Your Mouth
- Born in the Middle of World War I, This 108-Year-Old is Still Going Strong
- Diagnosed With Bone Cancer, Young Soldier Reunites With the Dog He Loved Overseas
- Baby Boy Born in a Carl's Jr. Parking Lot After Parents Didn't Make it to the Hospital On Time
- Landlord Surprises His Tenants By Offering Free Rent in November and December
- Birthday Boy Saves Friend From Drowning at His Own Pool Party
- His Girlfriend Had Sweet Memories of Bass Pro Shops, So That's Where Her Boyfriend Proposed
- Proud Parents Get a Surprise Visit From Their Soldier Son After Over a Year Apart
- Into the Deep End
- 93-Year-Old Grandfather Travels 40 Hours to Surprise His Grandson on His Wedding Day
- Trapped in a Burning Car, She Honked for Help, and a Brave Officer Saved Her Life
- Texas City Offers Something Special and Heartwarming With Their 'Grandma Stand'
- At 100, Wisconsin Navy Veteran Founded a Church and Still Serves as a Crossing Guard
- New York Police Officer Reunites With Woman He Helped on a Cold Winter Day
- When They Feared Losing Their Newborn, They Prayed for a Miracle, Then He Pulled Through
- Family Battling Daughter’s Rare Illness Gets the Perfect Secret Santa Surprise
- When a Loyal Customer Didn’t Show Up, This Chef Followed His Heart and Saved Him
- When a Comment Hits Deeper Than Expected
- 67-Year-Old California Man Saves His Family From Fire After Jumping From 2nd Floor Window
- Hiker is Rescued at Utah's Arches National Park After Getting Stuck in Quicksand
December 2025
- 2,397 Golden Retrievers Gather Together in Buenos Aires and It's Way Too Cute
- Dog is Found and Rescued After Running Away From California Airbnb
- Young Boy Was Only 5 Years Old When He Started a Christmas Card Campaign For Veterans
- California Family Launches Pizzeria to Help Their Daughter With Special Needs Thrive
- Gary Sinise on Giving Gold Star Families Hope Through ‘Snowball Express'
- Off-Duty Paramedic Jumps in and Saves 7-Year-Old Girl After Her House Catches On Fire
- Three Virginia First Graders Save Their Teacher After She Started Choking On Her Food
- 81 Years Later, Two WWII Veterans Meet And Discover They Survived the Same POW Camp
- Coma Survivors Turned Sweethearts Get Engaged at the Hospital Where it All Began
- After a Scary Emergency Surgery, This Dad Made it in Time to See His Son Being Born
- Baby Girl Born in a Missouri Buc-ee’s Parking Lot After Parents Can't Make it to the Hospital in Time
- A Dad Saves His 12-Year-Old Daughter After She is Covered By a Collapsed Sand Hole
- When a Graduation Photo Went to the Wrong House, Strangers Became Family
- After 20 Long Hours at Sea, One Family’s Safe Return Shows God Was Near All Along
- School Bus Driver’s Split-Second Decision Saves 4-Year-Old From Lake Owasso
- Minnesota 9-Year-Old Sets Up a Free Compliments Stand, Encouraging Her Community
Top Music Videos
Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
Universal Music Group Women Who Worship - Thank You Jesus For The Blood
Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin - Is He Worthy?
Cody Carnes Cody Carnes - Firm Foundation (He Won't)
toby mac TobyMac Drops ‘Heaven On My Mind’ Official Music Video
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.