A chance encounter with the boy changed the millionaire's outlook on life, humanity, and the world.
The unexpected generosity of children can sometimes leave a profound impact, as 42-year-old Matt Busbice recently experienced. Busbice, the owner of a sporting goods store called BuckFeather in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shared a moving story reported by CBS News. Despite having millions in his bank account, Busbice said a single dollar gifted by a 9-year-old boy made him feel richer than ever. “I haven't had that much faith in humanity in a very long time,” he shared.
The story began a month ago when the fire alarm at Busbice’s condo complex went off unexpectedly one morning. Rushing outside, he found no fire and decided to make the most of his early start by grabbing a coffee. Upon arriving at the coffee shop, he realized he hadn’t yet done his morning prayer. Moving to a quiet corner of the patio, he began to pray.
As Busbice finished and opened his eyes, he noticed a young boy approaching with a clenched fist. Initially bracing himself for a potential confrontation, Busbice was stunned when the boy unfolded his hand to reveal a $1 bill. Kelvin Ellis Jr., the boy, said, “If you’re homeless, here’s a dollar.” Kelvin explained that he’d always wanted to help a homeless person and finally saw an opportunity to do so.
Ellis Jr. had earned this single dollar bill by getting good grades. This wholesome gesture touched Busbice's heart, and he invited the boy for a snack. He spoke with Ellis Jr.'s father and promised to stay in touch. Furthermore, Busbice treated Ellis Jr. to a 40-second shopping spree at BuckFeather, where he could grab anything he wanted, including a new bike. The boy loved the goodies but also accepted that was not what he wanted in return for giving his money. He felt "joy" helping a stranger, "Give something away, and you feel like you've got a lot of things from it."
Busbice shared his philosophy about generosity, "If you give, you're actually going to get more out of that. I couldn't grasp that as a kid. And if we can spread that around, everything changes."
In a similar vein of kindness, Kevin Armentrout expressed gratitude for a stranger's compassion towards his daughter. He was with his wife and 16-month-old at an airport. He shared that his kid loved to say 'hi' to everyone and while she was doing that, a man reached out and asked her if she wanted to sit with him. He then took out his tablet and showed her how to draw on it. Later, he even gave her snacks and watched cartoons together. Armentrout said it was 45 minutes that the man took care of his child. He wrote, "This is the world I want for her."
"In a country that is... so deeply divided by beliefs, I want her life to be filled with moments like this... not liberal or conservative Republican or Democrat, socialist or capitalist, just human. Joseph from Samsung in Oklahoma, if this should happen to find you. Thank you for showing my daughter what kindness and compassion look like. Continue to shine your light in the world," the dad added.
How a simple act can have such an impact! https://t.co/QRLB1rGQd6
— Kevin Armentrout (@armentrout_) February 5, 2019
This article originally appeared 7 months ago.