Yesterday, while in Athens, I found myself in a situation every parent dreads. My daughter Avery suddenly announced, with urgency in her voice, that she had to use the bathroom — and it couldn’t wait. I grabbed her hand and together we hurried into the nearest place we could find, a Subway tucked away in downtown.

We didn’t even pause at the counter. We raced straight toward the restroom, but before I could open the door, an employee called out to me. He explained, politely but firmly, that the bathrooms were reserved for paying customers. My heart sank. I instinctively reached for my purse before realizing the mistake — I didn’t have my wallet with me.

I turned back and apologized, embarrassed and a little panicked. I told him we would leave. I was ready to take Avery back outside, her little face full of discomfort, when something unexpected happened.

Two young men, standing nearby, stepped forward without hesitation. They didn’t know me. They didn’t know Avery. But they immediately offered to buy something — anything — so that Avery could use the restroom. One of them smiled and said, “We’ll get her a cookie. That way she’s a paying customer.”

In that moment, relief washed over me. I thanked them quickly, and Avery and I dashed into the restroom. The crisis passed, but the kindness stayed with me.

When we came back out, those two young men were still standing there. I couldn’t just rush past them. I had to say thank you again. And that’s when I learned who they were. They weren’t just any college kids — they were members of the University of Georgia football team. Latavious and Jaylen.

We ended up having a conversation right there in the Subway. We laughed, we joked about football, and for a few minutes, what started as a stressful situation turned into a moment of pure human connection.

To some, it may seem like such a small thing. Just a cookie. Just a restroom. But to me, it meant everything. In a world that so often feels divided and self-focused, here were two young men — students, athletes, with no children of their own — who stepped up instantly to help a mom and her little girl. They asked for nothing in return. They just acted, simply and kindly.

It reminded me of a message I once heard in a sermon: “What does love require of you?” Sometimes love doesn’t look like grand gestures or sweeping sacrifices. Sometimes it looks like two strangers buying a cookie for a little girl who just really, really needed a bathroom.

The world needs more of that. More Latavious. More Jaylen. More small acts that ripple outward, reminding us that kindness still exists, that generosity is alive, and that even in the most ordinary places — like a Subway sandwich shop in Athens — love can show up in the simplest of ways.

So to those two fine young men: thank you. Thank you for being a bright spot in our day. Thank you for showing Avery, and me, that goodness is all around us. You gave us more than just a cookie. You gave us hope.