Despite the dawn that arises each day, there’s darkness all around. Police officers comprise a group of defenders who constantly encounter such darkness on a daily basis.
They consistently put their lives on the line trying to protect others from harm. Many times they find themselves staring down danger and the evil that lurks everywhere.
The men and women in blue also have become a target nowadays. There have been incidents in the past among the ranks that have tarnished some officers’ reputations and actions they took that ended their own careers.
Nonetheless, when seven-year-old Wyatt spied a group of Burleson County police officers at the Chick-fil-A in Burleson, Texas, he felt compelled to show them how much he cared. A thoughtful Christian boy, Wyatt has brought hope to many with his expression of faith demonstrated at the eatery.
Diner Kimberley Clark Stone snapped pictures of Wyatt approaching Officers Dicke, Ayuso and Lyman who were in line behind him. The young boy asked them simply if he could pray for them.
“Right when they got in line the little boy picture ran up to them and asked them if he could pray over them. He grabbed their hands and prayed the sweetest prayer that I have ever heard. He thanked the Lord for calling them to be police officers and asked for the Lord to protect them while they were busy protecting people. This brought tears to my eyes. I am thankful for kids like this and parents that encourage it.”
Stone posted on Facebook that she observed as Wyatt thanked them for their service and asked God to protect them as they, in turn, protected their community. Jessa Cox, Wyatt’s mom, said she wasn’t surprised when she saw her young son stopping to pray for the three officers.
“My husband Keith and I try and model what it means to really walk out our faith. And one of the ways we do that is to pray for people, this was not a one-time occurrence. I have seen my son pray for people many many times, and we have done that as a family, as well.”
Jessa’s husband happens to be a firefighter for the Irving Fire Department. She understands those feelings of fear and nervousness when her loved one leaves the house for work.
When Lauren Lyman, wife of the officer standing to the far right, first saw the photo, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She wanted to track Wyatt down and thank him for what he did.
Officers’ spouses live with a nagging unease that something might happen to their loved one while working a shift. Seeing Wyatt pray over his husband and fellow officers meant the world to her.
“My initial reaction was a slew of emotions: Pride. Gratitude. Shock. Who is this kid so I can hug him?! We live in a world where my husband and his brothers in blue are hated and condescended more than they are loved and respected. I expect for him to come home and tell me about the good, bad, and the ugly of his day. Most days, his stories are about the bad and the ugly. Thursday, his story was all good. That sweet boy put JOY in a place where it’s rarely found. He showed BRAVERY in a way few people are willing to. And gave COMFORT that’s hard to come by.”
Lyman hopes the image of young Wyatt, an innocent seven-year-old, inspires others to be just as compassionate as he was at that moment in a Chick-fil-A.
“How often do YOU pray for the people you love?…much less the people you do not know…much less pray for them in a public place, out loud, for the world to hear! He didn’t have any idea how desperately our family needed this encouragement. It’s been the hardest year we’ve ever faced. Our trials have been hard to walk through. But the 30 seconds this young man spent praying with these officers reminded us HOW we were able to walk out of this season on the other side.”
In just a week’s time, the photo of Wyatt has been “liked” more than 165,000 times and shared almost as much. Wyatt’s mom Jessa hopes that her son’s selfless act really does encourage others to be more open with their faith and to reach out to those who need it.
“I just truly believe that the Lord is putting this photo in front of the eyes that are meant to see it. And even if out of these thousands and thousands of people … one heart is truly changed for HIS glory than it is all worth it.”
What a beautiful moment captured in time by a complete stranger who readily recognized the power of what was unfolding in front of her. Never stop reaching out and praying for others Wyatt!
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