Homeless traveler asked for scraps at Chick-fil-A — manager's unexpected response left onlookers astonished
It is heartwarming to see someone do good for a complete stranger. A dad named Justin Burkeen revealed that he was at a Chick-fil-A outlet with his daughter and noticed something astonishing. He chanced upon a homeless traveler speaking with the staff. He had requested a few scraps so he could sustain himself. The conversation was quite intriguing for the dad, but what left him mesmerized was the manager’s response to the man. It came out of the blue and was far from what any onlooker imagined. The dad mentioned that he and his daughter were grabbing ice cream and eating at one of the booths closer to the counters at the restaurant.
“We had a front-row seat to this beautiful scene: a homeless traveler had walked in and asked if they had any extra food,” the dad wrote. The man seemed like he had been on the road for quite a while. “Mud was wet and caked on his well-seasoned shoes. His hair was matted, and his beard wasn't a statement as much as it was a necessity. It was a sign that he doesn't get to shave as often as most of us do," the dad noted. Burkeen observed the man and saw how many people were trying to keep their distance from him due to his appearance. What struck him was that the man continued to remain “kind” in his interactions and waited patiently to speak to the manager.
As the conversation took place, the dad noticed that it was going well. “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,” Burkeen remarked. The dad was stunned to see the duo stop what they were doing and immediately begin praying. “There was no waiting for things to die down, there was no scooting anyone to the side. The manager stopped then and there, laid his hand on the man, and proceeded to pray,” he noticed.
The post captured the manager holding his hand on his chest in respect, while both bowed their heads and prayed. What moved the dad more was that it wasn’t just a prayer or religious practice; it was bonding. “I heard love in that prayer. The homeless man wasn't some untouchable stain on business. He was the reason that the store opened its doors this morning,” the dad realized.
The dad was so delighted to witness the moment that he asked his daughter to watch too. “I realized at that moment that Chick-fil-A doesn't simply do business for profits, they truly use business to minister,” Burkeen wrote. He was happy to take away not just food but the outlet’s sense of “principle and purpose.” “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,” the dad remarked. Ryan Sherer wrote, “Wow, what a great thing to be a part of!” Bonnie Harris Maultsby remarked, “It was hard to read this, tears are in the way. This was such a beautiful lesson.”