It was an unseasonably hot day. Everybody, it seemed, was looking for some kind of relief, so an ice cream store was a natural place to stop.
A little girl, clutching her money tightly, came into the store. Before she could say a word, the store clerk sharply told her to get outside and read the sign on the door, and stay out until she put on some shoes. She left slowly, and a big man followed her out of the store.
He watched as she stood in front of the store and read the sign: No Bare Feet. Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she turned and started to walk away. Just then the big man called to her. Sitting down on the curb, he took off his size 12 shoes, and set them in front of the girl, saying, "Here. You won't be able to walk in these, but if you sort of slide along, you can get your ice cream cone."
Then he lifted the little girl up, and set her feet into the shoes. "Take your time," he said. "I get tired of moving them around, and it'll feel good to just sit here and eat my ice cream." The shining eyes of the little girl could not be missed as she shuffled up to the counter and ordered her ice cream cone.
He was a big man, all right. Big belly, big shoes, but, most of all, he had a big heart.

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