A young Louisiana boy’s act of generosity sparked an unexpected reward. Nine-year-old Kelvin Ellis Jr. offered his only dollar to a man in need, unknowingly impacting a local business owner.
Spotting a disheveled figure outside a coffee shop, Kelvin, with a kind heart, impulsively extended his sole dollar. The man, Matt Busbice, wasn’t homeless as Kelvin assumed. Busbice, a successful businessman in outdoor gear, found himself temporarily displaced due to a fire alarm, clad in mismatched clothing, CBS News reported.
Busbice, waiting for the all-clear, was saying his prayers when Kelvin approached. Initially anticipating a confrontation due to the boy’s clenched fist, Busbice was surprised to see a dollar offered with compassion. Kelvin, recently rewarded for good grades, readily parted with his only possession to help someone he perceived as less fortunate.
“‘If you’re homeless, here’s a dollar,’” the youth had said, offering his only dollar that he earned from doing good in school.
“And I started to slowly open my eyes, and there’s a kid coming at me, about my height,” Busbice said.
Busbice, deeply moved by Kelvin’s act, treated him to a snack, contacted his father, and ultimately offered a unique shopping experience at his sporting goods store. Kelvin had a whirlwind 40 seconds to choose anything, including a brand new bike.
While thrilled with the bike, Kelvin emphasized that he wasn’t seeking a reward. The true joy, he conveyed, came from helping someone. “Give something away,” he said, “and you feel like you’ve got a lot of things from it.”
“I always wanted to help a homeless person,” Kelvin said, “and I finally had the opportunity,” he added.
Kelvin’s act of kindness significantly impacted Busbice, restoring his faith in humanity. “If you give,” Busbice stated, “you’re actually going to get more out of that.” He reflected on how this concept eluded him as a child, but its widespread adoption could create positive change.
“If you give, you’re actually going to get more out of that,” Busbice philosophized. “I couldn’t grasp that as a kid. And if we can spread that around, everything changes.”
