Two drunk teenagers started bothering an old lady on the bus until a homeless man stepped in to stop them – and it changed his life forever.
Molly, an elderly woman, struggled to climb the steps onto the bus. She was relieved when a strong hand helped her up. But when she turned to thank the person, she cringed.
The hand belonged to a tall, thin man who looked homeless and unkempt. Molly quickly pulled her arm away and stiffly said, “Thank you.” Despite her unease, she nodded politely before finding a seat.
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The man smiled sadly. He was used to seeing disgust on people’s faces and facing rejection. But Tom stayed true to himself. He watched as Molly sat down, taking up two seats.
Something about Molly reminded Tom of his mother. His mother would also have been upset to see him in his current state. Tom walked to the back of the bus and sat by himself.
He closed his eyes, thinking about his daughter, Daisy. Two years ago, his wife Valery was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and after her death, Tom’s life fell apart.
For 18 months, Tom used all their savings to pay for Valery’s treatments, even borrowing money against their home. But it didn’t save her, and Valery passed away. Tom sold their house to pay off debts.
Tom lost his job after missing too much work while caring for Valery. With his wife gone, he also lost his home, his job, and all that remained was Daisy.
After selling the house, Tom moved with Daisy to a tiny apartment in a rundown building. The place was awful, with graffiti on the walls and bad smells in the hallways.
When Child Services visited, they took Daisy away. Tom was devastated and could only visit her at the group home. Eventually, Tom ended up on the streets, and the only luxury he allowed himself was a bus ticket to see Daisy.
Tom was deep in thought when a loud voice interrupted him. “Hey, driver! This lady should pay for two tickets!” shouted a drunk teenager.
The teen had noticed Molly, sitting quietly. Another teen joined in, making fun of her weight. Molly held onto her purse, looking around, but no one came to her defense.
One of the teens stepped closer and poked Molly’s chest. “You need to move, lady! We want these seats!” he demanded.
Molly lifted her head. “There are plenty of other seats,” she said.
But the second teen sneered, “We want these seats, and you’re going to give them to us.” He leaned in as if to grab her.
Just then, a strong voice rang out. “Get your hands off that lady, or you and I are going to have a problem,” said Tom.
The teens turned and saw Tom approaching. He was thin and ragged, but he stood tall and firm. “You boys can leave quietly, or I can help you off,” Tom said calmly.
The teens, realizing Tom wasn’t someone to mess with, backed down. The bus stopped, and they hurried off, throwing nervous glances over their shoulders.
Tom turned to Molly. “Ma’am, are you alright? Do you need help?” he asked gently.
Molly, with tears in her eyes, thanked him. “I’m fine, thanks to you. Could you walk me home?”
Tom agreed. When they reached her stop, Tom helped Molly off the bus and walked her to her apartment building. Molly invited Tom up for a slice of apple pie and coffee.
As they talked, Molly learned about Tom’s hardships and his lost daughter. She picked up her phone, made a quick call, and smiled.
“My son has a farm, and he’s looking for a reliable worker. I think you’re the man for the job,” she said.
Tom was surprised. “But I don’t know anything about farming.”
“I told him that,” Molly said, “but I also told him you’re strong, determined, and can learn anything. And I know you have a big reason to succeed, right?”
Tom nodded, holding back tears. Molly explained that the job came with a cottage, good pay, and health insurance. She had a feeling he’d get Daisy back soon.
Six months later, Tom was working on the farm, and Child Services allowed him to bring Daisy home. Thanks to Molly’s kindness, Tom and Daisy started a new life together.
Meet the 8-Year-Old Who Created a Breathtaking Jesus Painting—Prepare to Be Amazed
Akiane Kramarik painted a beautiful picture of Jesus called “Prince of Peace” when she was just 8 years old. This amazing artwork was forgotten for 16 years after it was stolen, sold by mistake, and kept away in darkness. Now, it has been brought back to the light for everyone to see.
Now 28 years old, Akiane Kramarik is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She is known for her beautiful spiritual paintings, which feature her amazing brushstrokes. When she painted “Prince of Peace,” she felt a strong urge, inspired by a recurring vision, to create an image of Jesus as a “profound role model for humanity.”
At just nine years old, Akiane appeared on the Oprah Show and showcased her art, which was much bigger than her small frame. Among her paintings was the famous portrait of Jesus, “Prince of Peace,” created with her special techniques.
“You’re obviously gifted. Where does this come from?” Oprah asked her.
“It comes from God,” Akiane confidently answered.
In another interview, when Akiane was just 10, she was asked how she knew it was God speaking to her. She replied, “Because I can hear His voice. His voice is quiet and beautiful.”
Interestingly, Akiane’s family is not religious, and they never talked about God in their small-town Idaho home.
“It wasn’t just art that was happening. Along with the art, there was a spiritual awakening,” said Akiane’s mother, Forelli Kramarik, who grew up in an atheistic family in Lithuania. “It all began when Akiane started sharing her dreams and visions. My husband, who was a former Catholic, did not share the same beliefs. We didn’t pray together, didn’t talk about God, and never went to church. Then suddenly, Akiane started talking about God.”
Akiane was homeschooled and didn’t have babysitters or a television, so she wasn’t influenced by anyone outside the home, her mother explained. “We were always with the kids, so we knew these words from Akiane about God didn’t come from outside influences. But suddenly, there were deep conversations about God’s love and His place in our lives, and she described everything in great detail.”
Akiane said her portrait of Jesus was inspired by a vision she had since she was a preschooler. She explained that she would illustrate her visions through poetry and writing, but it became too “complex to describe through words, so I painted.”
She added, “I always think about Jesus and talk about Him. I was searching for a model of Jesus for a long time. When I couldn’t find anyone, I suggested to my family that we pray all day for God to send the right one.”
The family prayed, and then a very tall carpenter—like Jesus, who was also a carpenter—showed up at their door looking for work. Akiane remembered almost fainting when she saw him. “I told my mother that was him. I want him to be my model,” she said.
Inspired by the image in her dreams and using the carpenter as her model, Akiane painted “Prince of Peace,” a painting that is now priceless and recognized all over the world.
“Prince of Peace” showcased Akiane’s vivid and detailed techniques, which were impressive for such a young artist. The painting was sent to an exhibition but was stolen during the journey. A few years later, it was finally returned to Akiane, but when it came back, it was covered in sawdust, which she carefully cleaned off.
The family tried to share Akiane’s spiritually inspired portrait with the world again, but a clerical mistake put the painting up for sale instead of for exhibition. “Prince of Peace” was sold to a private collector, and after a long court battle to get it back, which ended with the painting stored under a dark stairwell, Akiane decided to focus on creating new masterpieces, which received praise worldwide.
Not willing to lose hope, Akiane, whose talents helped lift her family from poverty, believed she would see her “Prince of Peace” again. In the meantime, she traveled to over 30 countries, helping different groups of people with her art and sharing her message of peace and spirituality. She also kept the memory of “Prince of Peace” alive by selling more than 100,000 prints.
In 2019, something incredible happened.
The “Prince of Peace” painting was put up for sale and purchased for $850,000 by an anonymous family. It’s said this family is “one of the world’s most distinguished and esteemed families.”
The new owners see themselves as the protectors of the original painting. They believe it is their mission to safeguard it for future generations, allowing its story to inspire and touch millions of people.
After almost 20 years, Akiane unwrapped her precious “Prince of Peace.” With tears in her eyes, she dropped to her knees. In a recent CBS interview, she said, “It was amazing to me. To be able to see this in the light again, after so many years.”
She added, “It’s still surreal to me. I’m not gonna lie… Love is so powerful. It will always show up on time for people who need it most.”
“Akiane: The Early Years,” showcasing the famous “Prince of Peace” painting, is now on display at the Belóved Gallery in Marble Falls, TX.
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