A busy real estate agent in Wyandotte, Michigan, took time out of his day to return a wallet containing nearly $100 in cash tips that he found lying in the middle of the road to its rightful owner.
How many of us have lost something valuable and hoped a good person would find it? It feels rare to see people doing the right thing these days. But this story shows us there are still good people who put others first.
“I Couldn’t Believe It Was Just Lying There”
It all began on a Monday afternoon when 26-year-old Donnie Hanson spotted something unusual while running errands. “It was in the middle of the street. I couldn’t believe that it was just lying in the middle of the road,” Hanson said.
The wallet contained ID and almost $100 in cash tips.
Many people might have kept the wallet or ignored it. Not Hanson. “I just knew I had to give it back,” he explained. His decision came from his own experience of losing a wallet that no one returned to him.
“I just found the ID, and I was like, you know what, yup, gotta get this back,” he said with a smile.
A Student’s Hard-Earned Tips
The wallet belonged to Michelle Johnson’s 25-year-old son. He works at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and studies at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. He had earned those tips during his entire weekend of work.
Johnson’s son had been in town that Monday filling up his car with gas and visiting a friend when the wallet fell from his pocket.
A Surprising Porch Visitor
Johnson first noticed something when she checked her home security camera. “He held up a wallet into our camera,” Johnson said, describing Hanson standing on her porch.
Hanson carefully hid the wallet behind some decorations on the porch to keep it safe until the family found it.
When Johnson realized what happened, she felt deeply touched. “I almost cried. I know that sounds silly, but it was nice,” she shared. The wallet contained not just the hard-earned cash but also her son’s ID and important cards.
As an elementary school teacher, Johnson saw a valuable lesson in Hanson’s actions. “These small acts of kindness really truly make a difference in the world,” she noted.
“You might not realize what something small does for someone else, but even the smallest act of kindness goes a long way.”
Hanson’s good deed created a ripple effect. Johnson said, “It makes you feel good and it makes people, our family included, we just want to pay it forward.”
Despite his busy schedule as a realtor, Hanson took time to personally deliver the wallet to the address on the ID. He understood the stress of losing a wallet. “I’ve lost my wallet before, and no one ever returned it to me,” he explained. He wanted to spare someone else that same frustration.
The wallet lay exposed in the street where anyone could have taken it. Thanks to Hanson’s honesty, Johnson’s son got back his wallet with all cash and cards intact.
For Johnson, an educator, this became more than just getting back a lost item. It became a real-life example of honesty and kindness she can share with her students.
Be the Answer to Someone’s Prayer
Next time you find a lost wallet, phone, or keys, take a moment to help find the owner. What seems like a small thing to you might be incredibly important to someone else. They might be frantically searching and praying for its return.
Your simple act of honesty could answer their prayers and bring unexpected joy to their day. Remember, the small choices we make to help others show God’s love in action.
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