There is no shortage of moments that make being a parent tough. But potentially disappointing your kids or not being able to provide for them are some of the worst. When one dad was going through a difficult moment, a certain police officer stepped in to make it right.

In Cleveland, Tennessee, Walmart hires police officers to work security.

And one officer on duty was at just the right place. At a nearby self-checkout lane, four children waited for their father to finish his transaction.

Officer Kelly had noticed this family before. He had taken note that the kids were very well-behaved, so he felt familiar with the family as he watched them scan their items and swipe their credit card.

But then Officer Kelly saw something that didn’t sit well with him.

The father’s card was declined while his children were watching. He described what happened next to InsideEdition.com.

“They went to self-checkout, and he went to put his card in. The attendant says, ‘I am sorry’ [and] they start walking out.”

With no way to pay for their items, the family had to leave. But Officer Kelly didn’t feel right leaving things just like that.

The police officer was worried that the family would go hungry, and he could not let that happen.

Realizing that no one else was likely to do anything to help, he decided to buy them their groceries himself. From his account his kindness impacted them deeply. He told Inside Edition:

“The little girl’s face got me. Her eyes were welling up and it broke my heart. I felt God telling me, ‘I put you up here for a reason’…I walked up to [the man] and said, ‘Please let me bless you today.'”

The story about this interaction went viral after a bystander recounted it online.

The bystander posted about it on their personal Facebook page. Then, the local police force, which this officer was a member of, found the post. Excited and proud, they reposted it on their own page. They decided to identify the officer as Mike Kelly, their School Resource Officer, and give him praise. But, they noted:

“It is guaranteed that Kelly wouldn’t want the credit from this, but it’s these random acts of kindness that inspire US ALL to be kind to others.”

After the police department reposted the story, it became clear that many people throughout the community knew and loved Officer Kelly for his kindness.

People flocked to the post to share their own heartwarming stories of this man being kind to them.

“What a GREAT man Mike is!! My children LOVED him as their SRO and he has been there as officer on duty in many dark times I’ve been through. You are definitely one of the finest officers we have here, Mike!!! Thank you for ALL THAT YOU DO in your everyday life and FOR our community. It’s an honor to have known you!!!”

“Mike is great with the youth he works with as well! Stand up guy!”

“ Not a bit surprised. He comes from a long line of good people.”

It’s stories like these that inspire us all to be better in the world.

It’s not that arduous to do a kind deed for a stranger. A story like this shows that kindness doesn’t just touch the person that is given something kind. It can also uplift and inspire people who watch it happen.

Watch the video below to learn more about this heartwarming moment!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Inside Edition, Facebook – Cleveland TN Police Department, WDEF News 12