JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- A local Cracker Barrel employee got a surprise tip just before the holidays, totaling $1,000. 

Jillian Greenleaf works at the Jeffersontown Cracker Barrel off Blankenbaker Road. A college student at Western Kentucky University, she's currently waiting tables over Christmas Break before going back to school. 

"I love to talk to all different kids of people like where they're from, if they're just visiting or if they've lived here their whole lives," said Greenleaf, describing her favorite part of the job. 

But she never expected the gift she received from a group of women just ahead of Christmas. 

"I remember going up to them and I was not having a very good day to begin with and I was not scheduled to come into work. But I got up to their table and they were just the sweetest ladies," she said. 

By the time their meal wrapped up, they handed Greenleaf an envelope with several $100 bills inside. The group came together to surprise her, a complete stranger, with a $1,000 tip. 

"I just started hugging them and thanking them," said Greenleaf. 

Jo Ann Ridge is one of the women who joined in on gifting the tip. She said it came from ten women who are part of a Bible study group at Southeast Christian Church. Ridge said the idea started from social media, seeing other people gift surprise tips and wanting to bring that kind of joy to someone. 

"We started praying, 'Bring the right person to our table that You want to bless.' And there's Jillian," said Ridge. 

Ridge said the moment has become her favorite memory of this Christmas season. 

"That hug honestly was worth a million dollars," said Ridge. "So, that $1,000 paled in comparison."

Greenleaf is studying music education at WKU, with dreams to become a music teacher. She said she has conferences and trips coming for school and wasn't sure how she'd cover those expenses, until this tip.

"I was really nervous about all that and just like a huge weight was lifted off my chest, when I realized how much money they gave me," she said, describing the gift as a blessing. 

Greenleaf talked with the women, and as she thanked them for the tip, learned they'd been praying for her.

"They said that they were praying for somebody to give this to. And they said that they thought it would be me, and I thought that would be awesome because, you know, God works in crazy ways," she said. 

Ridge said this was the first time her Bible study had gifted a tip like this, but after this experience, plan to do it again. She said the joy comes back ten-fold.

"There's a lot of good people, there's a lot of good things happening in our world," said Ridge. "So, look for the good. Be the good. Give. And give God the glory."

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