One quiet day at Waffle House, I sat with my 5-year-old son, Josiah, when he noticed a man outside—his clothes worn, his expression weary, and his life packed into a single tattered bag.
“Who is that?” Josiah asked softly.
“I think he might be homeless,” I replied. “He probably doesn’t have a place to live or food to eat.”
Without hesitation, Josiah jumped from his seat and ran to the man. “You can eat with us!” he said, smiling brightly. The man hesitated, but I nodded and invited him to join us for a meal.
When the waitress arrived, Josiah insisted, “Get him the biggest burger you have!” But before the man could take a bite, Josiah reached for his hand and said, “Wait—we have to pray first. That makes the food taste better.”
He bowed his head and prayed: “Thank you, God, for this food. Thank you for my new friend. Please help him not be hungry anymore.”
He ate slowly, overwhelmed. When the check came, the waitress said it was already paid—by three different tables. Someone in the corner said, “That little boy reminded us what humanity looks like.”
Before we left, the man hugged Josiah tightly. “You gave me hope,” he said.
A week later, we returned to Waffle House and the waitress told us the man had come back—this time, not for food. He’d found a job with a customer who’d seen Josiah’s kindness that day.
Later that week, we saw him again—clean clothes, work boots, and a backpack instead of a trash bag. He knelt down and told Josiah, “Because of you, I got a job. I found a place to live. You saved me.”
As we walked away, Josiah smiled and said, “See, Mom? Everyone just needs a friend.”
That day, my little boy showed the world that even the smallest hearts can make the biggest difference—and sometimes, a simple gesture of kindness can save a life.
