A man intended to leave a tip for his waitress but made a mistake. He didn’t stop there, though. He went the extra mile to ensure that the waitress received the tip she deserved.
In Lenoir, North Carolina, at the Side Street Pour House, a customer named Ted and his wife enjoyed a meal last December. When it came time to pay, Ted intended to tip his waitress, Hope, but left with the receipt that had the tip amount on it. Hope found herself without the tip but was not upset. She simply thought, “I thought, ‘Well, I guess they took it with them. It happens sometimes. It’s OK.”
Ted discovered his mistake days later while checking his bank account. He saw that the tip was not included in the charge from the restaurant. Wanting to make it right, he sent a letter to the restaurant with a $20 cash tip for Hope. Hope was pleasantly surprised by the gesture. She said, “I was not expecting that,” acknowledging the rarity of such kindness.
The restaurant shared this story on Facebook. The post went viral and was shared over 6,000 times. It touched hearts and reminded people how important it is to appreciate service workers with tips.
The response to Ted’s letter was overwhelmingly positive. The restaurant’s general manager, Angie Rash, said, “In today’s world, you hear a lot of negativity and sad and depressing things. To see something like that, it was just like, wow. There are still really honest, nice people.” The restaurant thanked Ted by sending him a letter and a gift card, inviting him back.
Let us remember, God calls us to show kindness and generosity. This story reminds us to honor those who serve us, as a reflection of God’s love in our actions.
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16