Last week a 50ish year old man came to my door and asked if he could rake the leaves in my front yard. Said he'd do a good job, needed money for his family. I said I only had a few dollars in my wallet (I had forgotten that I took some cash out a few days before.) I told him I'd give him some food to take home, (growing up, mom always told me, never turn someone away who asks for food), but he was on his bicycle and he needed feminine products for his wife and teen girls. I felt so bad - it was cold and drizzly. I told him I'd give him whatever was in my wallet. That's when I found the little bit of cash I had taken out. I gave him $15 (that left me with $3) and told him he didn't have to rake the leaves. I kept thinking about this guy and just knew I'd been taken. But I'd rather be taken than turn someone away that was really needy.
Well, he just showed up at my door and is mowing the yard and bagging up the leaves (he has one of those catchers on the mower). He dragged the mower, gas can, etc. behind his bike (still no car). My faith in people is renewed!

What an awesome story! Sometimes people do surprise us.

That man's mama raised him right. I feel bad for him. I hope you have some more cash. If I were close by I would give you some for him.

It's nice when surprises are good. My heart goes out the people who now have the need to do whatever is necessary for their loved ones. His parents should be proud of the son they raised.

That's a sweet story. You are a love to give the man the $ even though it left you short and he was an honest and decent man to return to do the yard work.

Bless you and him too (((HUGS))) :D:D:D

This is a nice story. HUGS to you and prayers to him and his family.

Heart warming story! Your mama would be proud of you!

Just about the time we are ready to give up and never open our door or our hearts, someone fills our soul with the wonder of life and humanity. You were blessed.....you got way more out of the deal than he did. :)

I wish more people were like him, it is all to easy over here, so very many go on the state benefit system and have no intention of working,( they can often get more money that way) it has got to the stage that three generations of a family have never worked..I realise sometimes it is genuine, but it is just too easy.. you wouldn't believe the range of work I have done to keep my family over the years so as not to rely on the state, until my health deteriorated just too much. I did volunteer work after that too.

Thanks for sharing. Not all people are bad.

That's a good thing...both you and that man!

heartwarming story.our country is so messed up now and we have so many needy and homeless people

I personally believe that the majority of the people of the United States are good, hardworking, honest people. If they ask you for work, they will do the work honestly.

In our city we have a couple of "groups" of people who work together standing on corners panhandling--they rotate corners, and just beg all day long.

I don't give to beggars unless I feel led to do so, and then I figure it's between them and the Lord what they do with it.

oh wow!! that is awesome for both of you!

How kind of you to give him money not knowing if he was genuine or not and for him to repay your kindness like that. Maybe he should start a little local lawn mowing service and make a bit of money. The world needs more people like both of you. ;-)

Your story made my heart sing.

You blessed him and God will bless you. Pay it forward.

How wonderful that you weren't taken. Because so many rip people off, its great to see someone who was sincere.

Same here :)

Truly awesome.

Thats a great story!

What a heartwarming story! That is something that my DH would do for us. He would did ditches to keep us from doing without things we needed.

I'd get his name and pass it on to others. I'm sure he could get other mowing jobs if people knew his circumstances. What a heart warming story.

my heart is smiling..,:)

When I am asked for help I think of Jess knocking at the door and think what if this is Jesus knocking at my door?. Guess I listened to my grandma too much.
Annette

yes, a very sweet story since usually we only hear about bad things......wish I had some money to share.....

Wow! They don't make them like that anymore! Well done and when your time is up and you can see the light of God he will smile at you for that act of kindness and probably many others...Blessings to you and Happy New Year

Wow, Barbara, what a wonderful story. I had
something similar to that happen last spring.
I was on my way to Cracker Barrel to pick up
a phone in order. I parked my car and got out
and just then another car drove behind my car
and stopped, blocking my car in. The driver
was a man, and in the passenger seat was
a woman, with 2 kids in the back seat. It was
a blazing hot day (surprise! surprise! in Tx :)).
The woman said they were going to a shelter,
but couldn't go until that night and her kids were
hungry. She asked for money for food. I thought
a minute, and then told her that if they would
come inside, I would pay for a meal for all of them.
They said alright and I walked passed their car,
thinking they would park and come in. Then I
looked and saw them drive away, out the exit.
In that case they didn't want money for food,
but for something else. I felt so bad for the kids
having to go along with what the parents were doing,
but I know I did the right thing to offer to feed them.
Have a Great Day!
Marcia

Its an shame more people are not as kind as you. You will be rewarded down the road. God Bless!!!

marciacp: That happens a lot, doesn't it? I never give money to panhandlers. there was another instance where a guy approached me as I was getting out of my car. He said he was hungry and would I buy him some food. I said sure, follow me into Subway. I asked him what he wanted and he said he couldn't read very well. To make a long story short, I paid for his meal with a $20, then ended up giving him the change. The look on his face was priceless - he was dumbfounded. At the time I was working and could afford to do that. I know I'll get it back 10 fold.

I hope you can find more things to give to him - he's honorable.

Lovely story.

Reminds me of my son, he was 18 at the time. Working the 11 to 7 am shift as a security guard. On his way home he fell asleep at the wheel. He went between two telephone poles and took out a row of hedges and stopped in the middle of a rather large Crepe Myrtle bush. After we got home, had the car towed. He went back there, worked almost all day digging out the roots of the hedge and chopping up the Myrtle bush. He offered to come back the next day and replant everything. The two elderly sisters said no, they were planning on hiring someone to take all those plants out anyways.....LOL
He showed up there for weeks after working on their yard for free and lots of baked goods...LOL

Stories like this really restore our faith in our fellow man doesn't it.

How wonderful that you did that! I'm always a bit leary of that sort of thing, so it will help me to pause and maybe not make such a hasty decision about people. Thanks!

This is a sweet and touching story, and I'm glad to know it turned out well for you and the man. However, our neighborhood watch organizations warn us not to open the door to strangers. Unfortunately, not all can be trusted, and there have been some ugly crimes. A person will knock on the door asking for work or to use the phone, and then two more will rush in from around the bushes and the homeowner is robbed or worse. Be careful, everyone. I know most people are descent, honest and hard working, but if you don't consider the possibility that someone may be otherwise, you and your family could suffer serious consequences. I have been more cautious and less trusting since neighbors across the street were burglarized. The man in your case could have left a note in the door offering to do the work and explaining the situation, and you could respond to that as you see fit. A lot of grocery stores have bulletin boards where people seeking this type of work can post their phone numbers. There are charity organizations and churches that are equipped to help desperate people. I'd rather donate to a food pantry that I know will use it properly than to a person who might just as well have taken the money and bought a bottle of booze, in which case it would have been no favor to him.

Heartwarming...thanks for sharing..

God blessed you! And, God bless you!

Awesome story and you are a saint.

God Bless both you and that young man!