As we continued our walk home, Ben looked up at me and asked, “Did I do the right thing, Mama?”
I had to pause, holding back tears of my own. “Yes,” I finally said. “You did something very kind.”
That night, I asked Ben what made him want to pray for the officer. His answer was simple: “I just thought he might need someone to care. People forget that police officers can be scared too.”
His words stayed with me. In a world where it’s easy to overlook the emotions behind the badge, my son had seen something many of us don’t—our shared humanity.
A few days later, while shopping again, someone gently tapped my shoulder. I turned to find the same officer standing there. He smiled and said, “I just wanted to thank you. Your son’s words that day really helped. It was a tough shift, and his prayer meant more than you know.”
Ben gave a shy smile as the officer gave him a small wave and continued on his way.
Weeks later, during a neighborhood block party, we saw him again—this time off duty and holding a casserole dish. He introduced himself as Officer Reyes and sat with us for a while. As the kids played, he shared more of his story.
“That day your son prayed for me, I was going through something heavy,” he said. “It reminded me why I started this job—to help people with compassion.”
Ben came running back from the playground, dusty and happy. Officer Reyes gave him a high five and said, “Thanks again, buddy. You reminded me to be kind—always.”
As the sun began to set and we walked home, I asked Ben, “What do you think now? Was it the right thing to do?”
He thought for a moment and said, “I think maybe I helped someone feel better.”
And he did.
Ben’s simple act reminded all of us that kindness doesn’t require grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s as small as a few heartfelt words—enough to make a real difference in someone’s day.
If this story touched your heart, consider sharing it with someone who could use a reminder that kindness still exists—and it often comes from the most unexpected places. ❤️