..and yet generosity remains.. (Pt. 1)

“This guy saved my life. My family..if it wasn’t for him..”

Overcome with emotion he could hardly find the words. 

Yesterday evening I was standing in Costco speaking with a friend from high school. 

He was sharing with me the pains & the joys of his experiences since his home in Yonkers burned down two weeks ago.

As we were speaking a gentleman approached us, looked in the face of my friend and said..

“You are the one”

In total excitement, both men stretched out their hands and embraced with a hug.

A hug so endearing I had no choice but to smile as I witnessed.

They were neighbors, from the same building that burned down two weeks prior. 

The first time they saw each other?

A little after 1am. 

The morning of the fire. 

My friend was escaping the fire when he realized the steps from his fire escape wouldn’t go down.

In the midst of the fire, the smoke, and the cries for help, he noticed a family trapped. 

He decided he was going to have to jump. 

From the 4th floor. 

But right before he jumped he kicked down a door. 

The door that allowed the man that was now standing in front of us to escape. 

But not only him, his wife, their 3mo old baby, and their young son. 

“You are the one”. 

“This guy saved my life. My family..if it wasn’t for him..”

Both men lost their entire homes that morning. 

Everything is gone. 

Yet generosity still remains..

(To be continued)