We’ve all been out to dinner when someone’s child acts out and begins screaming and making a scene in the restaurant – actually some of us have been that family.  

The common reaction is irritation and dirty looks, but that wasn’t the case for one person in a North Carolina restaurant who looked on with compassion and then did something about it.

Ashley England and her family were eating dinner at the Stag & Doe restaurant in China Grove, N.C., when her special needs son, 8-year-old Riley, started acting out.

One customer stepped up with kindness and compassion and sent the waitress over to their table with a note.  The waitress told the family, “I’ll try to do this without crying, but another customer has paid for your bill tonight and wanted me to give you this note.”

The note said, “God only gives special children to special people.”

That act of compassion brought the mom to tears.  “To have someone do that small act towards us shows that some people absolutely understand what we are going through and how hard it is to face the public sometimes,” she said. “They made me cry, blessed me more than they know. I felt like out of all the rude negative comments that we are faced with – this outweighs them, the people who care!”

Riley has suffered from a severe form of epilepsy since he was 18 months old. He has endured three major brain surgeries.  He can’t speak so he struggles to communicate and this can lead to frustrated outbursts.

This story inspires me to show more compassion the next time I’m anywhere a child is creating a scene – I’m thinking airplane :  )

Be kind, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.