I had made up my mind a long time ago that I would not give homeless people money, because I could never be sure what that money would be used for. 1 , I decided, I would buy them a sandwich, a cold drink on a hot day, a cup of coffee, 2 I could manage.
I was on my way home from work on a 3 city street full of busy people. That's when I saw a homeless man outside a Starbucks. He was moving back and forth 4 warm, and gently asking for 5. He spoke so quietly that I could hardly hear him. The idea that I would buy this man a sandwich and coffee flashed(闪过) 6 my mind, which made me 7 , turn around and walk into the Starbucks.
Just as I was leaving the store, two policemen were walking towards the man. 8 the shop owners had complained about the man and the police were there to draw him away from the storefronts. Without thinking twice, I ran towards them, asking one of the officers whether I 9 give the man something before he went. I was not sure why I asked the permission(允许) but the policeman said sure. I just handed the bag of food to the surprised man and 10 home.
On the way home I couldn't help thinking, "I hope people 11 that". Then I had to seriously ask myself why I hoped people had seen me give the man a sandwich from Starbucks. Was it 12 I wanted people to think, "She's such a 13 person"? I continued to wonder this all evening.
The next morning it came to me. I wanted people to have seen that small act of kindness not so that I would receive praise but so that they might be14 to do the same. Thus the whole spirit of giving would be 15 . Only in this way can the kindness be passed on and the world will be a more wonderful place to live in.
