Waitress moved to tears by elderly widow’s note who was dining alone when she read her heartfelt message

A waitress was praised on Twitter for taking a moment to chat with an elderly woman despite being busy at work.

During the pandemic in July 2021, Megan King (@alienpopstarr), a waitress at Perkins restaurant chain, displayed extraordinary kindness.

Her actions stirred deep emotions on social media, leaving many teary-eyed as they read the note she shared. Megan served a lone elderly widow at the restaurant during a 17-hour shift.

Despite her busy schedule, Megan engaged in light conversation with the woman, recognizing her loneliness.

“We chatted for a few minutes. Small talk, nothing too deep,” she said. Megan remembered the woman saying it had been a while since she dined alone and that Perkins was a beloved spot for her.

After finishing her meal, the woman left quietly. When the waitress returned to clear the table, she was overcome with deep emotion, feeling speechless and deeply moved.

The elderly customer left a handwritten note along with the tip for Megan.

“Thank you very much for your kind service,” said the note. “This was my first time eating out alone since my husband passed. I was hoping I could get through it.”

After reading the note, Megan was moved to tears, particularly upon learning about the woman’s loss of her husband.

She took a moment in the restroom to compose herself before returning to her other tables despite being pressed for time.

The waitress shared the note and a selfie on X, captioning it “In pain.” The post went viral, receiving over 737,000 likes and nearly a thousand comments. People on X were moved by the note, mirroring Megan’s emotions.

“It’s Amazing how impactful we can be in someone’s life without knowing it unless we’re told. Being kind costs nothing. So give it away as much as you can because you’ll never know who you’re uplifting and what you’re uplifting them through,” commented @skywalkermcfly_.

“Always better to just be a good person to other people because you just don’t know what they’re going through. You were an angel to that woman,” said @damomoo, appreciating Megan’s kindness.

However, some people used Megan’s tweet to start arguments, making assumptions about the small tip in the picture. “Are you crying because of that one-dollar tip or the note? I would be crying because of the first one,” said a commenter.

Megan promptly defended the customer and provided context, stating that the meal cost $11 and the tip was $3.

The waitress stressed that not everyone can afford to tip generously.

“Old people who live on fixed income deserve to get out for a nice meal. big tippers make up for it anyway. I’m serving them. you aren’t. I’m standing by that, thanks.”

Megan explained to Newsweek that many of their customers are elderly and on fixed incomes, so they tip what they can and are always welcome regardless of the amount.

Regarding the widow who left the kind note, Megan noted that her tip was sufficient, but she stressed that she wouldn’t have minded if it had been smaller.

“She was sweet and easy to care for,” Megan added. After the emotional situation, many Twitter users checked Megan’s well-being through direct messages, Goalcoast noted.

Megan appreciated the concern but reassured everyone she was feeling great and thankful for the support.

She regretted not spending more time with the woman she served. Megan highlighted the significance of showing kindness and compassion to strangers, as one never knows their struggles.

Her extra kindness made the woman’s “new normal” feel less lonely. Meanwhile, the waitress received another note from a different widow a month later, thanking her for feeling safe while dining alone at the restaurant.

This act of kindness had a ripple effect, spreading positivity and reminding many people of the significant impact of kindness.

Here’s a quick video showing the ripple effect of kindness: