A waiter at a restaurant in Texas says he got stiffed by a customer who instead left him a hateful note calling him a “terrorist” — but he’s taking the high road.

Khalil Cavil, 20, shared details of his encounter on Saturday with the offensive patron who left behind the detestable missive — “We don’t tip terrorist” — and no tip on a $108 check at the Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa, where he’s working as he readies to head to Dallas Baptist University later this year, according to the Odessa American.

“At the moment I didn’t know what to think nor what to say, I was sick to my stomach,” Cavil posted on Facebook. “I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists. Although, this is nothing new, it is still something that will test your faith.”

But instead of becoming angry, Cavil said he’s “decided to let this encourage” him and “fuel me to change the world” as he prepares for the next chapter in his young life.

“So to all the haters out there, keep talkin’, [you’re] only helping me step into my destiny!” Cavil’s post continued.

The restaurant’s chief operating officer, however, wasn’t so lenient toward the racist customer.

“We stand by and support our employee,” COO Terry Turney told the newspaper in a statement. “Racism of any form is unacceptable and we have banned this customer from returning to our restaurant.”

Cavil has declined to identify the customers who left the note and circled his name, which means “friend” in Arabic.

“It’s not about them, and it’s not about me,” he told the newspaper. “It’s about this hatred that is still going on, that is still here and prevalent. I just wanted people to understand that.”

Cavil said he vacillated on whether to post the receipt to social media before recalling his favorite quote by Martin Luther King Jr: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” As of Wednesday, the post had been shared more than 5,400 times.

Cavil, who is black, was interviewed by the newspaper last month while volunteering at a children’s event during the Black Cultural Council of Odessa’s Juneteenth celebration. Cavil said he was determined to donate his time to give younger boys and girls role models and to remind them to stay true to their dreams.

“Just to impact them in a way to say, ‘You can be something,’” Cavil said. “You have a purpose, to be in the fire department, to be in the sheriff’s office, to be within your community. That’s why I volunteer, just to impact and to be involved.”

Cavil hopes his encounter now propels others to act in the future.

“People may overlook that, but I definitely hope this encourages other people — no matter what race, no matter what religion — to voice out that this kind of racism and this kind of hatred is not OK,” Cavil told the newspaper. “A light needed to be shed on it, and I’m so grateful and blessed to have this opportunity.”