This week, I’ve been seeking farm labor assistance for a few ongoing projects at home, and fortunately, my sons Caldon Cook and Dillon Cook came to my aid in the past few days. Yesterday, we had to run errands to pick up some materials in town, so we decided to stop for lunch at the Waffle House. While we were there, we noticed a guy walking up in the parking lot and sitting down on the sidewalk. It was evident he was either hitchhiking or homeless. Covered from head to toe in tattoos and weathered by the sun, he caught the attention of a few patrons inside who started murmuring about him.

I glanced out the window at him and knocked to get his attention. With hand gestures, I asked if he was hungry, to which he nodded yes. I motioned for him to come inside, and he did. I instructed him to order a meal, assuring him I would take care of the bill. He seemed surprised and asked if I was sure, to which I replied affirmatively. He expressed his gratitude, calling me “sir.” I told the waitress to let him order whatever he wanted. He sat alone at a table, and when his food arrived, instead of immediately digging in as expected, he paused to give thanks to God for his meal.

Afterwards, he approached me and confessed that he hadn’t always been homeless and acknowledged that his appearance, adorned with tattoos, often deterred potential employers. He expressed his eagerness to work when I asked if he really wanted a job. He mentioned sleeping on church porches and expressed his readiness to join us the next day for work.

I informed him that we would be laying 10 pallets of sod the next morning and told him to meet us at the Waffle House at 7:45 a.m. He agreed and even shared a spiritual revelation he had, explaining how he had been seeking guidance from God and felt compelled to wait there.

True to his word, he showed up the next morning, and Caldon Cook went to pick him up. He admitted to never laying sod before but promised to work diligently. I simply asked him to be honest, clean, and respectful, to which he assured me he was more than capable. Throughout the day, he worked tirelessly alongside us, even leading us in prayer during lunch break. By the end of the day, he was proud of what we had achieved together.

I compensated him for his hard work and took him to a local motel to spend the night, with plans to pick him up again the next day. This experience reminded me that everyone has a story, and sometimes, a person asking for help isn’t necessarily seeking a handout but simply needs a hand up. I’m confident that my sons will always remember this encounter.