My 5-year-old son enjoyed visiting the Waffle House, but that day was like no other.
As we were seated at the place, waiting for our food to arrive, my boy Josiah spotted a man with worn-out clothes sitting outside.
Curious, he asked me what the man was doing on the street, to what I replied that he could be a homeless person.
Josiah, being just five, was interested to learn what that meant.
“He doesn’t have a home,” I said, adding that he probably doesn’t have anything to eat either.
Josiah was confused, and without hesitation, he got outside and told the man that he could eat with us.
The man seemed confused, and the entire restaurant was looking at Josiah, waiting to see what was going to happen. It was then that I told the man that he could have dinner with us.
He entered and Josiah ordered the biggest burger for him.
But, before the man took a bite, Josiah said, “Wait, we need to pray first.” And there, in the middle of the Waffle house, my 5-year-old son bowed his head and said a blessing.
At that moment, one by one, the rest of the diners started paying for meals and leaving money on the counter. The truck driver sitting opposite us told the waitress, “Make sure he has enough for breakfast tomorrow.” An elderly lady placed $20 on the counter and said, “For anyone else who might need it.”
The waitress was stunned. She said that in the 12 years working at the diner she had never witnessed anything similar.
Then and there, I felt like the proudest mother there was.
The ripple effect Josiah’s act triggered was nothing short of amazing.
Josiah, happy he made a new friend, took a bite out of the man’s hamburger and sked him if he like it. “The best burger I’ve ever had,” the man said, doing his best not to let tears run down his face.
Before we left, Josiah gave the man his favorite sweater. “You can have it,” he said, “In case you get cold on the streets.”
As we headed home, my 5-year-old asked me if he had done a good thing.
“You did a wonderful thing, sweetheart,” I said as I gave him a kiss on the forehead.
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