It is easy for us to judge people by their looks – and more often than not, homeless people are turned away from restaurants because they are dirty and could drive away customers.
But one restaurant owner who showed kindness to a homeless man discovered that a small act of kindness could really go a long, long way.
According to Cesia Abigail Baires who owns Abi’s Café in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the US, homeless man named Marcus came to her restaurant one day to ask for some spare change. She looked at him and asked, “Why don’t you have a job, you know nothing is given to me for free right?”
Photo credit: Cesia Abigail Baires / Facebook
The homeless man’s answer was somehow expected but it broke her heart. He said in all honesty, “Well, I have a lot of felonies and no one wants to hire me for that, so now I had to turn myself to the streets and get money the only way I know. Stealing and asking for money.”
At that point, most people would have given the man some money or just turn away but Abigail wasn’t like most people. Instead of driving him away and preventing him from coming near the restaurant, she actually invited him in!
“You want to work? I have a job for you! His eyes opened wide and his smile made my day!!!! He said ‘I’ll do anything for some food,’” Abigail added.
Indeed, it was incredible that someone would have given this man work, considering how he readily admits to stealing and having a lot of felonies.
What amazed Abigail, though, was when she finally gave him his pay for the 2 weeks he worked for her, he actually came back to dine at the restaurant like a regular customer – and paid for his meal! Thankful for turning this man’s life around, Abigail gave him a discount and decided to let him continue working at the restaurant.