Living in an old trailer with Mom wasn’t perfect, but we made do. One day, while playing outside, an old man named Mr. Thompson pulled up in a black SUV and challenged me to knock down some bottles. When he won, the favor he asked was simple: go fishing with him the next morning.

At the pond, Mr. Thompson shared a painful story about losing his son and how helpless he felt. After comforting him, we unexpectedly caught the biggest fish I’d ever seen. Soaked and laughing, he thanked me for a day that brought him peace.

The following day, Mr. Thompson’s assistant delivered a package filled with enough money to transform our lives—Mom’s medical care, a new home, and my education were all covered.

Some months later, I received a letter from Mr. Thompson, revealing he hadn’t survived his heart surgery, but meeting me gave him peace. He left everything to me, reminding me to never give up.

Years later, I stood in front of the house I built for Mom, knowing Mr. Thompson was watching and proud of the life I’d built with his gift.