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The Story Behind a Random Act of Kindness at Denny's Restaurant

A mystery man reveals why he left a $1,500 tip at the popular diner

A man walked into a Denny's restaurant in Utah and had one request -- to be served by a single mother.

The Love What Matters Facebook page posted an image of the man sitting in a Denny's booth earlier this month. The hostess seated the man in a booth served by a single mom named "Crystal," per his request.

"I've done this many times, but this is the one that got out," the man, who asked only to be identified as Briggs, told Dateline.

Briggs sat in the restaurant not ordering much, but over the course of two hours he paid for multiple meals for other customers, totaling about $600, and left a sizable tip for Crystal. 

"Your bill was $21.34 and you left her a $1,500 tip, because of you she gets her new place next week, because of you 7 families ate for free. Crystal told me she prayed the night before for a miracle and God sent you," the Facebook post read.

The man's random act of kindness is no longer a mystery. Briggs provided insight into why he wanted to give back and help so many families in the Denny's restaurant that day. 

"I grew up with a single mother of six. We were poor and homeless a lot," Briggs told Dateline. "I watched and suffered for years as I watched her work her hands to the bone to give us a good life. She raised us to be kind and help others. Many years down the road, I was facing prison and getting in trouble. It ended up causing me to lose my family because I was a really terrible person."

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