Over the years, couches have gained a reputation for their mysterious contents as well as their comfort. You could find almost anything between those cushions: remote controllers, month-old potato chips, and, sometimes, a wad of cash.

In one instance, someone found $43,000 in cash inside a thrift store couch’s cushion.

That someone is Howard Kirby, a born-again Christian from Ovid, Michigan. Kirby had been down on his luck lately, as he is divorced, lost a kidney, a family member to cancer, and his eldest son had become unemployed. Nevertheless, Kirby has maintained a warm and giving personality.

His selfless and giving nature would shine through when he purchased a couch from a thrift store that unknowingly had a large sum of money stuffed in one of its cushions—the money discovered by Kirby’s daughter-in-law, Diane, inside a case.

Although the cash was something that could have come in handy for him, he decided to return it to its rightful owners.

“Being a born-again Christian, Christ in me is the one that actually gave the money back,” said Kirby. “Remember the bracelets, WWJD? Well, that’s what Jesus would do.” Kirby’s lawyer did tell him that he had no legal obligation to locate the money’s original owner. However, Kirby saw it as a moral duty to return the money.

With the help of the thrift store he purchased the couch from, Kirby was able to find the original owners of the cash.

The original owners, a family who donated the couch, we beyond grateful to Kirby, revealing that the money had belonged to their grandfather, who passed away. They took Kirby out to dinner and wanted to pay him back even further. Kirby, for his part, refused to take any credit and was deeply moved by their gratitude.

“There’s so much thankfulness, it boggles my mind sometimes what is happening for me,” said Kirby. “I’m just amazed by it.”

Word of Kirby’s good deed soon spread across the internet, and it wasn’t long before other good samaritans decided to pay the kind man back with their own generosity.

Inspired by his generosity, John Conversa, branch manager of building supply business Eikenhout Saginaw, offered to repair Kirby’s damaged roof. And Ontario native, Jay Tyrell, started a GoFundMe page and raised about $2,200. It goes to show how one act of kindness can inspire others.

As for Kirby, knowing he did the right thing is more rewarding than all the money found in couch cushions.

“I don’t know how to say it; I’m blessed,” Kirby said. “I’m blessed beyond words. I have had so much peace, so much joy because I did do it, that $43,000 never could buy that much joy or peace or happiness.”

What would you do if you found all that money?

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Source: YouTube – WNEM TV5, Spotlight