Empathy starts when we look around and see others who may need help.
We don’t only see them, but we know what it would feel like to be in their shoes. A stranger you met in the subway may be having a hard time, just like that man in a suit you bumped into in the elevator.
Everybody needs a little help sometimes. All we have to do is reach out.
At times, we doubt if we should do it. Maybe a person didn’t want to be bothered. But it’s better to ask than to have not known and helped, right? The following story is a good reminder of that.
Jill Metiva Schafer was in Comerica Park when she spotted one officer’s act of kindness.
It was taken moments after the Detroit Tigers’ team was canceled due to rain. People were already dispersed, and the rain started to slow down. Jill was in her car when she saw this police officer approaching a man.
What happened next was something worth taking a couple of photos of.
The police officer asked the man if he needed any help, and he did. It turned out the man was struggling to shave. The police officer lent him a hand until the man was completely shaven.
Jill took photos and posted them on social media, capturing people’s attention.
7 Action News searched for this good Samaritan and found it was Officer Thomas.
Officer Jeremy Thomas was assigned to Downtown Services and was previously a volunteer firefighter. He said that he loved doing this because he likes to help people. Now it all made sense!
Officer Thomas said that he saw the man struggling with everything he had in his hands.
He had his hands full with shaving cream, a razor, and a bottle of water that the man got from another kind person who handed it to him. He was using the rainwater from the downspout and was having difficulty completing his task.
The officer walked up to the man who initially thought he was going to be asked to leave.
The man probably thought Officer Thomas was going to drive him away from the park. But when the kind officer asked if he needed any help, the man did not hesitate to admit he did.
The man named Stanley Nelson told 7 Action News he appreciated what the officer did.
“I really appreciate that because, you know, I’m going through my thing, and I feel bad about myself, you know, but I’m gonna be alright,” he told the station.
He also said that what the officer did was beautiful – looking out for a total stranger in the park. He added that since he did that, God would bless and look after the police officer.
His kindness was innate, and the police officer knew exactly what he wanted to do at that moment.
“Nobody is better than the other person. They may be in a better position in life, but use that opportunity to take care of somebody else when you can,” Officer Thomas told 7 Action News.
Indeed, he took that opportunity to take care of Stanley Nelson.
Watch the video below for more details on this very heartwarming story!
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