A restaurant staff in Edmonton touched hearts by learning sign language to communicate with a 5-year-old deaf customer.
The world around us can feel dark and broken at times. We see stories of pain and struggle on the news every day. But God shows His love through simple acts of kindness that light up the darkness. These moments remind us that hope still lives in the hearts of people who choose to care for others.
At an Edmonton restaurant, manager Justin Halabi noticed that one of his young customers, 5-year-old Ashlyn, was deaf. He wanted to make sure she felt welcome every time she visited.
Instead of just taking her order like any other customer, he decided to learn American Sign Language so he could talk with her. “I found out she was deaf, so I wanted to communicate with her without her feeling unwelcome,” Halabi said.
The story gets even better. Another employee at the restaurant, Donald Reyroso, already knew some sign language and started signing with Ashlyn too. Together, they turned her regular visits for chicken nuggets and fries into special moments that made her feel seen and understood.
Her mother, Caylyn Forsberg, watched with joy as her daughter lit up during these interactions. She shared how much these simple gestures meant to them: “It took three seconds for Donald to say, ‘Hey, I know some ASL,’ and it has created a lifetime of happiness for my daughter.”
While Halabi and Reyroso might only know basic signs, their effort to connect with Ashlyn shows what happens when people take time to understand others.
Each time Ashlyn visits the restaurant now, she knows she will find people who made an extra effort just to talk with her. Her mother says these moments have brought endless happiness to her daughter’s life.
We might think we need to do big things to help people, but sometimes the smallest gestures make the biggest impact. Next time you see someone who might feel left out or different, think about what you could do to make them feel welcome.
It might take only a moment of your time, but it could bring joy that lasts forever. Let’s ask God to show us opportunities to share His love through simple acts of kindness, just like these restaurant workers did.
WATCH: Restaurant Staff Go the Extra Mile to Bring Joy to a Deaf Child
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