A poor widowed mother of four let a soaked old man into her home to escape the rain. The next day, she sold her only house for just $1 and promised never to go back.
Angelina Gibson, 34, was sitting by the window, watching the rain ruin her day. She made a small living by selling flowers and eggs on the street to feed her kids.
Three years earlier, her husband Mark had died just a month after their youngest son, Robin, was born. Since Angelina couldn’t read or write, it was hard for her to find a decent job. That rainy day, she lost her only income because of the bad weather.
Angelina looked out the window with sad eyes. She had hoped for sunny weather, but the rain got even heavier. At the end of the street, she spotted an old man soaked from head to toe, standing in the rain.
Oh, poor old man. Why is he standing there? Angelina thought, “He’s soaking wet.” He looked weak and couldn’t walk far. He was standing under a closed shop door, but the heavy rain still soaked him.
“Why are you looking at me?” she asked, wrapping herself in a worn-out sweater.
Angelina felt sorry for him. He looked rich and nicely dressed. She wondered, “If he’s rich, why is he walking? Don’t rich people have cars?” Feeling frustrated, she grabbed an old umbrella and ran to him.
“My house is close by. Would you like to wait there until the rain stops?” she offered.
The old man was surprised by her kindness. He smiled and followed her, still wondering why she helped him.
“Is this your home?” he asked with a grin. “I’m Joe Tyler. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“I’m Angelina Gibson!” she said, wiping off a chair. “Please, have a seat.”
Joe saw Angelina’s four children sleeping on the floor around the house. “Why are your kids sleeping like this?” he asked.
Angelina said they were very hungry because they hadn’t eaten lunch. “I believe God will help me feed them soon. But first, the rain has to stop.”
Joe was impressed by how hopeful she was. He thought the house was too small for a family of five and looked run-down. The old TV was broken and covered in spider webs, and the furniture looked worn out. At first, Joe thought Angelina was having a hard time living like this.
After thinking quietly, Joe surprised Angelina by asking her to move in with him.
“What? I don’t understand, Mr. Tyler. Did you just ask me to live with you?” she asked. “Why would you want me to? Is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
She looked at the old man, wondering if she had made a mistake by letting him in. “Why are you staring at me?” she asked, pulling her worn sweater closer.
Joe shared, “I lost my 15-year-old daughter to TB. Then my wife died a year later. I’ve been living alone for 40 years.”
Angelina smiled, feeling sorry for judging him. Hearing him call her like his daughter made her happy.
“My car broke down, and I was stuck walking to the garage in the rain. But maybe God meant for us to meet,” Joe joked. “Why don’t you bring your kids to my house?”
Angelina was shocked by his offer. “Are you serious? Please tell me you’re joking. Who would ask a poor woman and her kids to move into their home?”
“I’m serious. I want you and your children to come live with me.”
Surprised, Angelina hesitated but accepted the offer for her kids’ sake. She hoped for a better future for them.
“But I have two small conditions,” Joe said, making Angelina curious.
“You should agree,” he said. “We’ll share the house. I’ll pay for your kids’ schooling, and you can take care of me like I’m your father.”
Angelina smiled through tears, feeling hopeful. Growing up in an orphanage, this felt like family to her.
But then Joe shared his second, bigger condition, and her excitement faded.
“I need you to sell your house tomorrow,” he said.
“Sell this house? But why? Who would buy it? It’s messy and falling apart. Unless they’re blind, no one will want it,” Angelina said.
“I know someone who needs this place,” Joe replied. “And I’m not finished. I want you to sell it for $1.”
“For $1? What?” Angelina was shocked.
“Yes, just $1. There’s a poor family of three living in an old trailer nearby. A mother with two kids. Please give them this house for $1. It’s your way of paying kindness forward.”
The old man’s kind words and sympathy touched Angelina deeply. With happy tears, she agreed. At that moment, the rain stopped, and the sun shined on her small home.
The next day, Angelina and her children moved in with Joe. Before crossing the street, they stopped at the trailer he mentioned.
Angelina gave the poor woman living there her house keys. “Here, take this,” she said. “I want you and your children to live in my house.”
“What? How do I know this is real? Are you really giving me your house?” the woman cried.
“Yes. But it’s not free. You just have to pay $1 for it!”
The woman couldn’t believe it. She quickly gave Angelina $1, grabbed her kids and things, and moved into the new home. Angelina said goodbye as the woman left.
“Remember to pay it forward!” she called out, as she and Joe drove away.
After that, Angelina stopped selling flowers and eggs on the street. She watched her kids go to good private schools and cooked delicious meals for Joe, the kind old man who cried tears of joy, happy to have a loving daughter and grandchildren.
What can we learn from this story?
Help others, and kindness will come back to you.
When Angelina gave shelter to the old man, she was poor but kind. Because of her kindness, she gained a loving father figure and a nice home.
It’s important to accept help when offered and give back when you can. Joe invited Angelina to live with him, and although she hesitated at first, she accepted. She sold her house for $1 to the woman in the trailer, who got a better place to live, while Angelina and her kids found a good home.
This story was inspired by real-life experiences shared by readers.
Any similarities to real names or places are accidental. All photos are for illustration only.