We sat at a corner booth in Waffle House, just me and my five-year-old son, Josiah, sharing a quiet dinner. The usual background hum filled the air until Josiah tugged at my sleeve.
“Mom,” he whispered, pointing outside, “Who is that?”
I glanced toward the window and saw a man with tired eyes and worn clothes, standing alone under a flickering streetlight. “I think he might be homeless, sweetheart,” I said softly.
Josiah’s expression shifted. Without a word, he slid out of the booth, ran to the door, and waved at the man. “You don’t have a home? You can eat with us!”
The man hesitated, then stepped inside. Josiah beamed. “Get him the biggest burger we have!” he told the waitress. Laughter rippled through the room, easing the tension.
Before the man could eat, Josiah touched his hand. “We have to pray,” he said, and bowed his head to whisper a blessing.
When he lifted his head, tears filled my eyes and others in the restaurant. The man smiled, “Best meal I’ve had in a long time.”
Josiah, unaware of the impact, handed the man his red hoodie. The man took it, deeply moved.
As we left, I saw the other diners talking to the man, showing him kindness. That small act had rippled through the room, reminding everyone that sometimes, kindness is the most powerful thing we can offer.
“Did I do a good thing, Mommy?” Josiah asked as I tucked him in.
I kissed his forehead. “You did a wonderful thing, sweetheart.”
And in that moment, I knew—kindness isn’t just something we do once; it’s something we live every day.