When you go out to eat, you expect your waiter or waitress to greet you, take your order, bring your food, and check on you every once and awhile. If all of those boxes are checked and your food was good, youโre probably going to walk away happy and leave a pretty good tip, right?
Well, one couple in Springfield, Illinois got much more than that when they went to their local IHOP.
A woman and her husband went to the same IHOP restaurant for years. They were regulars and got to know the staff and the staff got to know them. Waiter Joe Thomas had seen this couple come in to eat countless times. He was a waiter at the IHOP for over a decade. He knew the wife was disabled and her husband always had to feed her since she has trouble eating due to a medical issue.
But, what Thomas did next was certainly a move not many waiters would take.
Knowing that the husband always took time away from his meal to feed his wife, Thomas sat down with the couple and started feeding her so the couple could enjoy their meal together.
Thomas wasnโt looking for any recognition. In a television interview with WICS, Thomas said he always saw the husband stop eating so he could feed her. He figured if he wasnโt doing anything at the time, he could go feed her so the husband could eat and everyone could be happy.
His actions didnโt go unnoticed.
The couple was grateful, but other people also saw what Thomas did. Since it was something you donโt see every day, one woman did what everyone does these daysโฆtook her phone out, snapped a picture, and shared it on social media.
Weโre used to seeing people post negative things they see, rarely do we see random acts of kindness like this. The photo has gone viral and put Thomas in the spotlight.
But, heโs not one looking for recognition.
He says his parents always taught him to treat people as equals, so thatโs what he was doing.
Thomas told station WICS, โI am out there to help anyone if I can, donโt really look for anything in return, just have a good day and thatโs it.โ
Many people who have seen Thomasโs story on YouTube have commented about just how heartwarming it was to see such a random act of kindness.
โGOD bless his heart. Not too many people will do that. Thatโs what the world needs, more good people.โ
โThis level of kindness is rare. The world needs more people like Joe Thomas.โ
โThis is why I still believe in humanity. This man has my deepest respect and honor.โ
Whether he was looking for recognition or not, Thomas certainly received it. Since the picture went viral in 2017, Thomas received a job offer to become a nurse.
While we donโt know if Thomas took the offer or if heโs still serving meals at IHOP, we do know that a little act of kindness can go a long way.
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