Why Do Small Acts of Kindness Stun the World?

"Jennifer Foster, of Florence, Ariz., was visiting New York with her boyfriend on Nov. 14, when she came across the shoeless man asking for change in Times Square.
As she was about to approach him, she said the officer — identified as Larry DePrimo — came up to the man with a pair of all-weather boots and thermal socks on the frigid night. She recorded his generosity on her cellphone.
DePrimo, speaking to reporters on Thursday, remembered the night clearly, that even with two pairs of socks on, his feet were freezing.
The homeless man "didn't even have a pair of socks on and I could only imagine how cold that pavement was," the 25-year-old said, clutching a box containing cufflinks given to him by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly." Source: NBCNEWS

The photo above was posted on NYPD's Facebook page and has gone viral. With over 600,000 likes and over 200,000 shares, it seems that the world has been stunned by this simple act of kindness that one police officer had on one homeless man.

Why is this so stunning? Why do we highly exalt people who give hundreds of millions of dollars to the world's neediest charities, but when one man spends $30-$40 to buy shoes and socks for a homeless man, the world is shocked?

"But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets." Luke 41-43

Something that I find interesting about this article is what the woman who captured this on film said:

"The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching." Source: NBCNEWS

This officer wasn't looking around to see if anyone was watching so that they could tell everybody about what a nice guy he is. He wasn't expecting the man to repay him for the expense. After all, what could he expect to receive back from a homeless man who is only asking for pocket change?

"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:1-4