MY 5-YEAR-OLD MADE AN ENTIRE RESTAURANT CRY WITH ONE SIMPLE ACT
We were sitting at Waffle House, just me and my 5-year-old son, Josiah, when he spotted a man standing outside. His clothes were worn, his face tired, and he carried everything he owned in a small, tattered bag.
“Mom,” Josiah whispered, tugging at my sleeve. “Who is that?”
I glanced over. “I think he might be homeless, sweetheart.”
Josiah’s little face scrunched in confusion. “What does that mean?”
“It means he doesn’t have a home,” I explained softly. “And he might not have food either.”
That was all it took. Before I could stop him, Josiah jumped out of his seat and ran to the man, waving him inside like an old friend.
“You don’t have a home? You can eat with us!” he said, beaming.
The man hesitated, looking down at his worn-out shoes. The whole restaurant had gone quiet. I could feel people watching, waiting to see what would happen next.
I nodded, smiling. “Please, let us get you a meal.”
When the waitress came, she asked what the man wanted. Before he could even answer, Josiah excitedly said, “Get him the biggest burger we have!”
But what happened next broke me.
Before the man took a single bite, Josiah said, “Wait! We
Before the man took a single bite, Josiah said, “Wait! We have to pray first!”
He looked up at the man, his big blue eyes filled with innocence. “My mommy always says we should thank God for our food. And we should pray for people who need help, too. Can I pray for you?”
The man’s eyes went wide, his hands trembling as he set down the burger. His lips parted, but no words came out. He just nodded, his face crumpling as tears welled up.
Josiah reached across the table, his tiny fingers wrapping around the man’s rough, weathered hands. He closed his eyes, his voice soft but clear.
“Dear God, thank you for this food. Thank you for bringing us together. Please help this man find a home and keep him safe. And please let him know that he is loved. Amen.”
When he opened his eyes, the man was openly crying, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. I felt my own tears slipping down my cheeks, my heart breaking and swelling at the same time.
But it wasn’t just us. I looked around and realized the entire restaurant was watching. The waitress was wiping her eyes with her apron, an elderly couple at the next table held hands tightly, their faces wet with tears. Even the cook behind the counter was sniffling, his back turned as he pretended to busy himself with the grill.
The man looked at Josiah, his eyes full of gratitude and disbelief. “No one’s ever prayed for me before,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “I… I thought God forgot about me.”
Josiah’s face lit up with a smile so pure, so full of love that it took my breath away. “Oh no, He didn’t forget. That’s why He made us find you today!”
The man let out a choked laugh, his tears flowing freely. “Thank you… thank you, little man.”
A Ripple Effect of Kindness
The waitress came back, her voice thick with emotion. “Your meal’s on the house today, sir,” she said, her hand on the man’s shoulder. “And if you need another, you come right back here. We’ll take care of you.”
One by one, people started approaching the man. A man slipped him a twenty-dollar bill, patting him on the back. A woman offered him a coat. Another man promised to help him find a job.
Josiah watched it all, his face glowing with joy. To him, this was just the right thing to do. No questions, no judgments—just love.
And I realized then how powerful a child’s heart could be. How one simple prayer could ripple out and change an entire room.
The man finished his meal, his eyes full of hope and gratitude. He hugged Josiah, his voice trembling. “You reminded me that good people still exist. That God still cares. I won’t forget this.”
Josiah hugged him back, his tiny arms wrapped tightly around the man’s neck. “You don’t have to. Just remember you’re loved.”
As we left the restaurant, hand in hand, I looked down at my son and realized that sometimes the smallest hearts carry the greatest love.
Josiah didn’t just feed a hungry man that day. He fed his soul.
And he reminded all of us of the power of kindness.
