When an 8-year-old who’s nonverbal became loud and hit the table while out to eat over the weekend, his family got a pleasant surprise.

Ashley England was out to dinner with her family Friday night in China Grove, N.C. when her son Riley got “a little rowdy,” she says.

“Riley was getting loud and hitting the table and I know it was aggravating to some people,” England told WBTV.

That’s when a waitress came over to let the family know that another diner had paid their bill and left a note.

“God only gives special children to special people,” read the message.

England said she was especially touched by the mystery diner’s gesture, indicating that the past few weeks have been rough, particularly during public outings.

“To have someone do that small act towards us shows that some people absolutely understand what we are going through and how hard it is to face the public sometimes,” England told the Charlotte, N.C. CBS affiliate. “Little did he know what struggles we had been facing lately and this was surely needed at that moment.”