She tried to ignore him, but it was difficult. The strange man was staring right into her soul.
She had a suspicion of who he was, but could she be right? Was he really who she thought he was?
Eating Alone
Eleanor Baker was an 80-year-old woman from Oxford, Alabama. Her husband had recently passed away, and she was having a hard time coping with her loss.
That day, she had mustered enough courage to go to a restaurant alone. But, little did she know, she would regret this decision for the rest of her life.
Relaxing
Eleanor entered the establishment and sat at a small table by the window. She put her bag down on the seat next to her and opened the menu.
She was looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the food while reading a book. But unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching her every move.
Being Watched
Three men had followed her in and sat at a table nearby. They didn't take their eyes off her purse the entire time.
One of the men was getting impatient as he watched Eleanor slowly eat her steak. He needed to talk to her, but what would he say?
Confused
Eleanor glanced around the room and noticed the three strangers staring at her. She didn't think much of it at first, but then one of the men got up from his char and started walking in her direction.
What did he want from her?
Familiar Face
When she looked at him again, she saw his beautiful eyes and a warm smile. He seemed very familiar.
She moved her purse from the chair so he could sit next to her. Somehow, she felt drawn to this man. It felt like she had known him for years.
Strange Feeling
The man said he would be back, but first, he had to order dinner. Eleanor knew she had seen him somewhere before, but where?
The stranger returned a few minutes later and sat down next to her. That's when Eleanor realized something.
Big Family
She burst into tears as she looked at him. The stranger looked her in the eyes and asked: "How is your husband?"
She explained to him that she was a widow. And although she had a lot of family members, they all lived far away, so they never visited.
God Thing
“It was a God thing,” Eleanor said. “I think God sent me there.”
The man smiled at her and said: "Don't worry about your husband." What was he talking about?
In Shock
"He is missing you too," the stranger continued. "Your husband is waiting for you, but he is happy now, so you should be too."
Eleanor couldn't believe what she was hearing. Who was this man? And why did he feel so familiar?
Jamario Howard
The young man's name was Jamario Howard. He reminded Eleanor of her late husband. He even ordered the same food as him!
The way he spoke, the way he smiled, and the way he walked were as if her husband was communicating to her through him. But who was Jamario?
Jamario's Story
Jamario was out with his friends, who were all in their 20s when they noticed Eleanor sitting alone.
He felt sorry for her and decided to talk to her.
Thrilled
“He just came up, and he said, ‘I saw you sitting over here alone," Eleanor recalls. "He said, ‘do you mind having some company?'”
Eleanor was thrilled to have his company and even more when the rest of the men joined her table.
Savior
She hadn't had a deep conversation with someone since her husband passed away. Jamario listened to her and offered some advice.
Eleanor says she considers him her savior during this challenging period.
True Friends
“When you make that kind of connection with somebody, it’s hard to let it go,” said one of Jamario's friends.
They are all still in touch with Eleanor. “I’m not rich, I’m not famous, and I’m not very smart either, so I can’t be president. But we can show the world it’s alright to be kind. Then, before long, maybe the world will be a much better place.”