I read this bit in a book I'm currently reading and was reminded of this past Saturday morning's event: getting a flat tire on 29. I had a feeling when I left that morning at 8 am that something wasn't right with my car. Thirty minutes into the drive, I stopped at a gas station to see if I could pump in some air in the tire. I couldn't even screw off the cap in the tire so reasoned with myself that it must be a sign that it has enough air. I prayed that I could just arrive home without a disaster. Well, God having a sense of humor, 10 miles away from home, I heard the loudest rumbling noise imaginable and realized that my front left tire was dying on me. I pulled over on the right shoulder and called my mom right away to tell me what to do.
While waiting an hour and a half for roadside assistance to arrive, four strangers and two cops stopped to help and/or make sure I was safe and okay. Assuming that the cops stopped out of duty, I won't focus on them here. Rather, I want to thank those kind souls that didn't have to stop but did.
The first man stopped 5 minutes after I pulled over. I truly believe that he was Godsent. He told me, "Yesterday I saw someone pulled over and I REALLY wanted to stop and help but I was two lanes away and couldn't and I just thought GOSH! So today I saw you and knew that this was my chance. Can I help you?" I was touched by his desire to help but couldn't escape my unwillingness to be helped so I lied to him saying I didn't have a spare tire. I didn't want to waste his time. He sighed and told me to have a blessed day.
The second man pulled up his SUV behind me. "Can I help you? It'll only take a couple minutes." I thanked him but assured him that "help was on its way." He asked again a second time if I just want to do it now and I told him, "No really its okay."
The third man, wearing a West Point sweater, stopped and came over, "Hi! Let's change this tire!" I explained my situation of waiting and he said, "Okay....I just know that if my wife or daughter were like this, I would want someone to help them too." I thought this man had such kindness in heart to be thinking of strangers as his own family.
The fourth man pulled up his Lexus convertible with a Florida license plate. He asked if I was okay and if there was anything he could do.
I hated having a flat tire but it was really wonderful to see the kindness of the people around me. Not just the ones that stopped but also the ones that I am sure saw me and prayed that God would send me help. And indeed He did. But I didn't accept it. Or did I?
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