Again?

Last night we had to run to Abilene and anytime we go, Justin insists that we stop at Academy. He's always out of some fishing item despite having 1/2 of the store stocked in his boat shed. The kids and I usually stay in the car while he runs in. I noticed a lady pull in front of the store doors and 5 employees exit with 2 huge boxes. She'd purchased a swimming pool. She was driving and SUV and I wondered if the boxes would fit. They got one in but after 5 minutes of attempting the other determined they wouldn't fit. I could tell she was getting frustrated and that "Little Voice" I mentioned in a previous blog told me to get out and ask where she lived. We were in Justin's truck and could easily fit the boxes in back. If it wouldn't be too far out of the way, I'd have Justin take it to her house. So I got out and said "Where do you live?" She gave me the oddest look and said "Anson." Ah ha! Anson is 25 miles from Abilene and it's a town we have to travel through in able to get back home to Hamlin. I told her we lived in Hamlin and that we were done running errands and we'd be glad to deliver it to her. She was so shocked she didn't know what to say. I told her who we were, that Justin owned Cooper Insurance and that we had two little kids in the back who needed to be home soon for bath and bed. She then told me that her and her husband hadn't lived in Anson long and that they owned the BBQ place there (we'd eaten there many times.) She said that she was so thankful for my gesture because the boxes wouldn't fit and Academy wouldn't hold them for her and she was going to have to return the pool. The employees clearly were wondering what my motive was and if this lady would ever see her pool again. I gave her our info and she told me to drop the pool off at their resturaunt. So we did. All was well. I really didn't want to tell this story, but I felt like it was an important lesson. How many times have you been in a bind and haven't had the help you need? People watch your struggle and do nothing. How many times have you seen someone in trouble and refuse to get involved? Or simply ignored the little voice to go ask if you can help? Imagine what our world would be if we all listened and acted instead of listened and justified an excuse?

Our world is in desperate need of kindness. Go pay some forward today. May the grace of our Lord be with you all...