People come in all shapes and sizes, we’re all on a different journey and we’re all unique in our own way.
But it’s important to remember that we’re all human.
Helping the homeless is something that some of us love to do, and something others avoid for their own reasons.
Father Joey Mustain was reminded of this after taking his daughter into fast food chain Chick-fil-A.
As he and his daughter Stella were eating, a homeless traveler walked in asking restaurant staff if had any left over food.
Joey observed the mud caked into the man’s “well-traveled’ shoes and his matted hair.
The man then spoke politely to the customers around him while he waited for the manager but they “reluctantly spoke back,” according to Joey.
The father, Joey Mustain, posted the entire story to Facebook as soon as they got home:
”I took Stella to Chick-fil-A today. It’s our normal daddy-daughter spot. It’s clean, so good, and the playground has a tractor beam on her the moment she sees it.
When we finished eating and she’d worked up her dessert appetite playing with the other kids, we went back to trade in her toy for ice cream. She wanted to sit at a table to eat the cone (something we usually do in the truck), and I’m so glad she did.
We took a booth right next to the spot where you wait for your drink to be ‘refreshed,’ and we had a front-row seat to this beautiful scene: a homeless traveler had walked in and asked if they had any extra food.
Mud was wet and caked on his well-traveled shoes. His hair was matted, and his beard wasn’t a statement as much as it was a necessity and a sign that he doesn’t get to shave as often as most of us do.
People near him kept their distance, but that didn’t stop him from being kind. He spoke to people who reluctantly spoke back, and he smiled while he waited on a manager.”
He was polite and smiled while he waited to speak with the boss.
“All I could pick up on of the conversation was the manager saying that he’d love to give him a full, warm meal. Not just scraps or extras.
The only thing he required was that the man let him pray with him.
After the homeless man agreed, there was no waiting for things to die down, there was no scooting anyone to the side.
As busy as they were, the manager stopped then and there, laid his hand on the man, and proceeded to pray.
I heard love in that prayer. The homeless man wasn’t some untouchable stain on business. He was the reason that store opened its doors this morning (or any morning).
I asked Stella to watch and she stared. She asked what was happening and when I told her, she bowed her head, too.
I realized then and there that Chick-fil-A doesn’t simply do business for profits, they truly use business to minister….
I love teaching my daughter life lessons, and I also love being there to watch other Christians teach her life lessons. Thank you, Chick-fil-A, for taking care of the latter today.”
This manager could’ve easily leaded the dirtied man away from the restaurant, but instead, he chose to make a positive difference.
When the weather is chilly and homeless people are forced to endure frigid, dangerous conditions, think about how you can make a positive change!
Please share if you think more should be inspired by this manager’s compassion.
