A viral photo of a state trooper praying with a grieving passenger during a traffic stop has touched the hearts of people everywhere.
According to Fox8, Lanell McGee James, who shared the photo online, revealed that she and her husband, Mar, were traveling to Dallas when they were pulled over. What began as a routine traffic stop soon turned into a tender moment of compassion shared between strangers.
In her Facebook post about the event, she said the man, identified only as Trooper Bates, approached the car and asked them where they were going. That was when she told him they were on their way to Dallas after Mar's brother unexpectedly passed.
“He said, ‘Oh I’m sorry to hear that, do you know where he is?'” Lanell recalled. “My husband answered ‘Yes, at the morgue’ and the officer responded ‘No. He is now in his heavenly home.'”
It was then that Trooper Bates asked Lanell and Mar if they would take a moment and pray with him.
“He removed his hat, asked to hold our hands and he prayed with us," Lanell wrote. "I have NEVER had this happen before but it was everything that we needed in that moment."
The photo was uploaded to Lanell's Facebook account where she wrote, "With so much going on nowadays with police killing people and people killing the police as well as racial tensions, I felt compelled to share this picture."
She added, "Thank you so much Trooper Bates for praying with us!"
In just a matter of days, the post has been shared more than 93,000 times and has received nearly 160,000 reactions.
As reported on Officer.com, Bates said:
"While I was on patrol on Sunday, I met a family in need. They were mourning the unexpected loss of a loved one, and I am humbled that my actions had a positive impact on their lives during this difficult time. As a State Trooper, I’ve met many people who have shared their stories with me. Often, I don’t hear about the impact I’ve had on them. I am truly humbled by the kind words of Mrs. James, and I will always be grateful that our brief interaction had a positive impact on their family."
