I was sitting in the RV still working on our website when I heard a car engine outside that wouldn’t start.
I could tell from the sound that the battery didn’t have the gusto to turn over the engine.
I grabbed my set of jumper cables and walked over to the broken-down car. When I approached the vehicle, I could see that the guy inside was obviously frustrated. He was gently knocking his head against the steering wheel.
At some point in our lives, we’ve all been there, right?
I knocked on the window, being careful not to scare him, and asked if he needed a jump.
He tried starting the car one last time before saying, “Sure.”
As I placed the cables on his battery, I handed him one of our cards. I explained who we are and briefly told him to pay this act of random kindness forward. I walked away thankful that I could give the guy a helping hand.
A couple of hours later, I received an e-mail from the stranger I helped that night. He wrote:
“I am the gentleman you helped out in the Mariners parking lot. I want to thank you for helping me. I was having a rough night, and you totally changed my mood.
“I feel that God sent you to help me out as an angel. I feel totally blessed that you helped me in my time of sadness. I am still in shock about all of this because I didn’t expect to meet you.”
All I did that night was give his car battery a jump. It was a simple act that took less than ten minutes of my time. You never really know what is going on in someone else’s life, which means that even the smallest act of random kindness can make a big difference.
There were obviously some much bigger issues going on with the guy I helped that night that God knew about. But I surely had no idea what those were when I knocked on his window.
Acts of random kindness are sometimes spontaneous and other times well-executed plans. It doesn’t matter which way they come as long as you do something—anything.
Choosing to do nothing is the only way you can be certain you will never have a moment like the one I shared that night. Have the courage to step out in your faith, trust your gut, follow your instinct, and take action.
You never know whose life you may change, but you will always be clear that yours will never be the same.
Read more about what Beth Loecken and her family are doing to make a difference.
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