Care from a stranger

I remember how tough it was as a young family. Hubby working multiple jobs, going to grad school. Me trying to stay sane while juggling little ones at home. It was a stressful time. Sometimes a dollar just wouldn’t stretch as far as you wanted.

It was during this time of our life that I took our only car in to be tuned up. We had a strict budget and had saved enough to get the tune up it needed. While I was waiting, the car technician, an older gentleman, called me over to talk about the car. As they often do, he recommended some repairs to be done. But there was one that he said was a matter of safety. I can’t remember what exactly it was, but I do remember him telling me that it was imperative we have that part fixed.

I called Hubby and we discussed the problem. But, with finances the way they were, there was no alternative. We couldn’t make the repair.

Somehow, through no ones fault but my own, I ended up in tears when I tried to tell the car technician we couldn’t make the repair. He again, very kindly but clearly, stressed the importance of the repair. And I again, told him we had no choice, the repair would have to wait.

When I went to pay for the tune up, the car tech said he had done the repair because it needed to be done. He then proceeded to pull out the sixty some odd dollars it cost out of his own wallet, and put it into the register in my behalf. I think he said something about how he would want his own daughter to be safe.

I never knew his name. I don’t even remember where it was I took the car. But I will always remember this gentleman’s kindness to our family that day.