A homeless man named Marcus, who had lived homeless on the streets, since he was 16, walked into Abi’s Café’—owned by Cesia Abigail, 25—asking for some money.
Judging by the look of the man’s situation and the condition he was in, she didn’t chase him from her restaurant, like most people would instinctively do.point 132 |
She instead asked him why he did not have a job, since she herself did not have everything she’d needed in life handed to her for free.point 243 |
In his explanation, he told her that he’d been a multiple felon and because of his record, no one was willing to offer him a job on merit; he hence took to the streets and resorted to an easy way out-stealing.point 171 | 1
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He has revealed that if he felt a little remorse for the emotional damage he would do to his potential victims, he would beg for the money instead. It was then that the empathetic Abigail asked him if he would instead work for her and earn some income, since she had been understaffed that day.
Abigail shared on Facebook about how this homeless man’s wide-open eyes and smile made her day. He had said he would do anything for a meal. After getting the job, Marcus did not waste any time at all, he immediately started to work. He washed the utensils and took out the trash. He continued to do this daily for the next two weeks; always turning up on time for his two-hour shift.
Surprisingly, Marcus adamantly refused to eat the free food from Abigail’s restaurant despite the fact that all employees were entitled to free lunch at Abi’s Cafe. He chose to pay to buy his lunch at the same restaurant as a way of giving back to Abigail for the tremendous help she had offered him. Although it is only logical that he should not have had to, he said, he felt fulfilled whenever he paid for his own meals.
Abigail urges everyone in the world to always do something good for others. She adds that we should never be too quick to judge a book by its cover, but rather we should be open to helping others and share what the Lord has blessed us with. Everyone deserves a second chance in life, therefore we should always try our best to see the good in people and find ways in which we can uplift them and push them in the right direction.
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Abigail says that she was very thankful to God who enabled her to help Marcus.
We all want change.point 80 | Why then shouldn’t such acts of love go viral? We ought to pick a leaf from such simple acts of kindness? Surely if every one in the world went out of their way to extend a hand to a person in need, the world definitely a better place to live in.point 278 |
Abigail was amazed by Marcus’ generosity, when she offered him a sandwich after work, he divided it into two halves, took one piece and rolled it up in foil, then offered it to a fellow homeless woman outside before he could eat the other half.point 206 | 1
“That really touched me.” She said in an interview with CBS News. According to CBS, he was showing up daily for his shift, and that Abigail planned to grant him a permanent position. She told CBS that people told her that she had been a blessing to him, yet she feels he had been the blessing she needed.
Ever since she shared their story on her Facebook timeline, people came out in thousands to like and comment, showing their gratitude for her selfless act of kindness. On the contrary though, however nice one could be, they could never come off as “nice” to everybody. Despite the wonderful act Abigail had done.
She had shared with the intention of inspiring others, however, some people came to the comment section of her post with not-so-nice remarks following her story.
Some were not pleased by the fact that a homeless man would have to pay for the food he would have eaten at the restaurant he worked, claiming that paying for food at that very restaurant seemed as if Marcus was working for free.point 186 | “Why not give him food and let the money he had earned cater for other basic needs in his life?” asked one of the concerned commenters.point 300 |
Another commenter felt that a two-hour shift was more like a lenient pass to someone who needed to learn the value of working for a better life.point 118 | 1
In her defense, she dismissed her critics when she said that her employees always received their meals free of charge, but Marcus felt it was his responsibility to pay for his own meals, although she does not take more than three dollars.point 315 |
She added that at the time she did not have enough money to hire more people, hence why he only worked a two-hour shift; but she promised that as soon as business got to its threshold, she would hire him and possibly hire more people that needed a push in life.point 211 | 1
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She further said that God touched her heart to help Marcus, but God also knew that at that moment she was the one in need for a blessing, because thoughts of giving up her restaurant, which had been her sole dream, had started to cross her head.point 199 | He was her angel.point 213 |
She also said that Marcus felt great ensuring their story going viral and that he understood there not everyone would be affected positively, and that it is giving such people a chance to reflect on their actions towards others.point 190 | 1
Abigail reward to CBS that it was not going to be easy for Marcus to discard whatever addiction he held. She felt she needed to help him, but that he would have to help himself first. In the meantime, he had learned how to save some money, and together with him, they decided to put aside 10% of what he earned.
Abigail said that just like Marcus, she too received her help. she had a lot of people come to her rescue to where she had got. She had many people who believed in her and it was only fair that Marcus could find solace working in her restaurant. All it takes is one simple act of kindness to change someone’s life, let us take time off our busy schedules to help the less fortunate.
Wow, what a generous woman and a sincere man. I can’t imagine how she could do such generous thing for Marcus.