Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Paying it Forward

While traveling to work this morning, I got too close to the edge of the road, and my right passenger side tire went slightly off the road, causing it to pop.  I was only going 25 mph at the time, so it wasn’t anything dramatic, and I was able to pull safely off to the side of the road.  Realizing the tire had popped, but wasn’t quite flat, I continued to drive about 1/10 of a mile so I could pull over in a safer area. 
I pulled over in the driveway up to the field office for the Developer (Total Development Solutions) working on the Brambleton neighborhood.  Two nice men asked if they could help, and I accepted.  They had a jack in their office that is better than the one that came with my car, so they used that instead.  Then after putting on my spare tire, they realized that it too was flat.  They had an air compressor in their office, so they were able to refill the tire in no time- a second rescue.  I thanked the gentlemen over and over again, and offered them cash.  They refused.  I then asked for their names so I could send a thank you note to their company, again they refused.  One of the gentlemen just smiled at me and said he had a wife and kids, and he just hopes that someone will help them out if they are in a bind one day.  I was beyond touched. 
These guys were busy at work.  They didn’t need to help me, and they certainly didn’t need to do it for free, but they did.  When all the work was done, one of the gentlemen put the damaged tire in my trunk, closed it and said “You’re safe now.  Have a good day, and God Bless.”   This is just one of many reminders that while we are surrounded by news of terrible things in the world, we are also surrounded by wonderful people who pay it forward.