You see, Jim had been retired from professional baseball for many years. He knew he should have spent some of his earnings on investments for his retirement instead of squandering it on ….. Well let’s just say he squandered it and leave it at that. He is now the owner of a neighborhood hardware store in a poor area of town.
His place keeps getting broken into. One evening he stays late and catches a young person breaking in. He has him by the collar in one hand and puts down his bat with the other so he could call the police.
“Please mister, please, don’t call the police. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done it. I was just trying to get some money to help my grandmother out. She’s been raising me.”
They continued to talk for an hour and a half negotiating a deal. Mark, the young boy, would work at the store until his debt was paid. Over the course of several weeks while working together they both enjoyed the numerous conversations they had. Mark especially appreciated the wisdom from Jim that he gleaned from these talks.
The day finally arrived when Mark was freed from his debt. He had a surprise for Jim. He was going to continue working for him on a volunteer basis. Jim also had a future surprise for Mark. Jim would put those funds into a special account earmarked “ Mark’s College Fund “.
Now that’s what I call a homerun.