Soldiers Plan a Surprise for the Server After Learning Their Lunch Is Already Paid For

(Illustration - Shutterstock)

No kind action stops with just itself. Many times it leads to another one and thus creates a ripple effect. This story below proves just that.

When four soldiers walked into Paul’s Family Restaurant in Elgin, Illinois, in November 2017, customers seated inside noticed them straight away, especially because of their camouflage combats. And that’s when one kind act followed another, all to appreciate the soldiers’ sacrifice in service.

“A family of six that came in right behind them pulled their waitress aside and said they wanted to buy them their lunch. Moments later another lady came to pick up an order to go and wanted to do the same,” read a post on the Facebook page of Paul’s Family Restaurant.

The lady explained that her son whom she missed had started boot camp at Fort Benning that week and thus she wanted to buy the soldiers lunch as well.

The post further read: “Since they hadn’t even ordered yet I suggested that they each put $20 towards their bill and Paul’s would pick up the difference. In the meantime, TWO MORE groups asked to pick up their check!”

However, that was not all. Another man then approached the soldiers before he left with his takeaway. He left $50 on their table and thanked them for their service.

“By then they already know their tab is covered but I tell them to just take the money for the next time they go out,” the post continued.

When the soldiers were leaving the restaurant, the owner thanked them and said that if they hadn’t left a tip, he would be happy to cover the tip for them.

However, to the owner’s surprise, the soldiers told him they had left something on the table—it turned out that they left the entire $50 to the server.

The post went viral garnering 1,500 reactions, 250 shares, and over 100 comments.

One social media user wrote: “Awesome story, it’s so good to hear that there are so many generous people all around us!”

While another commented: “WOW! Hearing this is what keeps my faith in America going forward. Kindness towards others just because they are willing to serve in this their country’s military. God bless them and those who just wanted to say thank you to them.”

©Facebook | Paul's Family Restaurant

©Facebook | Paul's Family Restaurant

A third one chimed in: “That is so heart warming. The people wanting to pay for their meal and then leaving the large tip for the waitress. Such fine young men - thank you for your service- you are appreciated.”

Not long after, Love What Matters shared the post on their Facebook page, garnering over 8,000 reactions and some 500 shares.

Paul’s family restaurant then commented on their post: “It was a wonderful moment all around. We’re just a small moderately priced family diner so a $50 tip for a table of four was an exceptional tip.”

They further added: “And the server is the mother of a service member so the whole thing was sweet in about a dozen different ways.”

Indeed, kindness benefits both the receiver and the giver.