Acts of kindness often come from the most unexpected locations. As long as we open our minds and enable them to rectify prevalent misconceptions, people can surprise us with excellent actions every day. Such was the case for Sarah Darling, a Missouri woman, who had the opportunity to meet with a local homeless guy from Kansas City who gave her engagement ring back after she lost it.

A 55-year-old Billy Ray Harris was homeless. He lived on a street corner in Kansas City, holding out a cup and asking passers-by for spare change. But then, one day, his life changed.

Sarah was surprised to find out that her engagement ring had been missing after providing a tiny gift to an impoverished person begging on the road. Sarah instantly realized that this was just the beginning of a life-changing tale when she returned to meet the guy.

With a hopeful smile, Sarah approached him and said, “I don’t know if you remember me, but I think I gave you something that’s very precious to me."  The answer of the homeless person made Sarah tear up. "Was it a ring?" he said. "Yeah, I have it, I kept it for you.”

It was a miracle. Sarah felt so fortunate that in case she returned for it, the guy held it for safekeeping. She realized that for a few hot meals, most individuals in his situation would attempt to pawn off the ring, Harris spoke of the temptation to sell the ring, he was offered $4,000 for the ring but: “I just couldn’t do it. I’m not saying I’m an angel, but I’m not a devil either.”

As a way to say thank you, Darling and her husband Bill Krejci started a fund to raise money for Harris to help him get his life back on track. They set a goal for a thousand dollars because a lot of people who had been touched by the story expressed interest in helping Billy Ray. The fund was raised far more than any of them expected in just three months, people donated more than $190,000.

And that’s not all: After he appeared on TV, his family members who had not been able to find him for 16 years and had heard rumors he was dead, were able to track him down. They were happily reunited. “When I think of the past, I thank God that it is over,” he said. ”I mean, I feel human now." The Kansas City community has not forgotten about Harris and his good deed. Instead of coming up and giving him change, they come up shaking hand and saying, “Good job, man."

Since the fateful day that Darling’s ring landed in his cup, Harris’ life has done a 180. “This is what they call the American Dream," he says. “I want to thank all the people that helped me out. I want them to see where all their efforts, blessings and kindness are going.” And he has lifelong friends in the couple whose ring he returned.

The more honest we are with ourselves, as we face our weaknesses, the more our weaknesses turn into strength. When we get honest with people about who we are, what we want, and how we expect to be treated; love, kindness, honesty and truth will all come back to us.

  By Tim Pedrosa