A Police Officer’s Final Act of Kindness Changed My Son Forever—moments Before He Was Gone
I remember the day my son, Daven, came running to me with a bag of cookies, grinning ear to ear. He told me a police officer had bought them for him after overhearing him ask for change at McDonald’s. The officer, Jeremy Henwood, had briefly talked to Daven about his dream of being an NBA star, and then he was gone—shot while sitting in his patrol car.
When Daven learned of his death, he was devastated, struggling to understand why such a kind man had been taken away. But in time, Daven began to emulate Henwood’s kindness. He helped others, offered support, and made the world a little better every day.
Daven’s love for basketball returned, driven by a deeper purpose. In high school, he reached out to a teammate who felt overlooked, just as Henwood had done for him. Eventually, Daven chose to pursue a career in criminal justice, inspired by the kindness he’d experienced.
Years later, Daven became a police officer, and one day, he helped a young boy at a store, just as Officer Henwood had done for him. The cycle of kindness had come full circle.
This story shows that small acts of kindness leave lasting impacts. We may not always see the results, but the seeds we plant grow, creating ripples of goodwill that can last a lifetime.
