I wish I could tell you his name, but he wishes to remain anonymous. His deeds of kindness will go unrewarded in this life. But the appreciation he showed to a busy and weary registered nurse breathed new life into her.
An Offer of understanding
The nurse was 31-year-old Kyrie Anderson. Her supervisor at the Baylor Scott and White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth called her in to work an extra shift. Kyrie dashed to get ready, but her car battery was too dead to even unlock the doors. She couldn’t even get into her car. In desperation Kyrie called roadside assistance, but help would not arrive for more than an hour. So she decided to flag down someone to help her out.
Asking for help doesn’t come easy to Kyrie. She views herself as ‘the helper’ and cannot bear the thought of being a burden to anyone. But she felt a sense of urgency to get to work and go the extra mile to help patients during the pandemic. So she waved to the first vehicle that passed her apartment – a black pick-up truck.
The driver was the aforementioned stranger. He and his wife had just left their home after a long lock-down and didn’t have any particular thing to do. He saw that Kyrie was in scrubs and understood she had to get to the hospital to help others. Thus, he offered her the keys of his Prius so she could drive it to work. Then he volunteered to wait for the roadside assistance to arrive. Hesitatingly, Kyrie accepted the offer and got to work on time.
The stranger waited for the repairman who got the car started. Then the stranger drove her car to the mechanic shop, got it repaired, filled its tank with gas, and drove it to her workplace.
Tank of Encouragement
As he handed her keys back to her, Kyrie, profusely thanked him for his kindness and offered him a gift card in gratitude. But he refused. The stranger explained that he appreciated all that she did to help others and he only wanted to support her in her task. Kyrie was so deeply touched by his words of encouragement. But when she left to go home and realized he had filled her car with gas, she broke down and cried. The stranger not only filled her tank with gas. He filled her emotional tank with encouragement.
Our culture is sometimes poisoned by putdowns and caustic humor that make decent human beings the constant butt of jokes. So many in our society are not only running on empty. They are trying to function with a heart full of pain. They’re starving for someone to appreciate their contribution and validate their very existence. But our poisonous culture withholds those critical necessities.
That’s why simply saying “Thank you,” can melt an embittered heart. A husband or wife telling their spouse they appreciate the sacrifices they make can have a resurrecting effect. Showing gratitude to healthcare givers, who fight many losing and discouraging battles, can renew their strength. The same is true of showing appreciation to all unsung heroes (e.g. first responders, law enforcement, military members, teachers, parents, etc.) whose many sacrifices are known only to God.
Heavy burdens of Service
America already has too many ingrates, too many whining individuals who do nothing but decry the failures and offenses of others. But God calls us to be part of the solution. He calls us to contribute to society, to speak words of life and perform deeds of kindness to those who carry heavy burdens in the service of others. “A soothing tongue is a tree of life; but twisted words crush the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). “But whoever has this world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not only love with word and tongue, but also by deeds and truth” (1 John 3:17-18).
PRAYER
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (St. Francis of Assisi)
(Story from: https://fox6now.com/2020/04/15/literally-handed-me-the-keys-stranger-helped-texas-nurse-get-to-work-when-car-battery-died/)
The content of this article comes from “The Warrior’s Bible” (2014) and is copyrighted by Life Publishers International. Used with permission.
