A Chance Encounter on a Sweltering Summer Afternoon
As we embarked on a road trip to drop off our daughters at college, a sudden blowout on Mary’s car brought us to a halt at a gas station. With three hours still to go before reaching our destination, we were stranded. My husband, Randy, and I were in our car, while our daughters, Mary and Amy, were in Mary’s car, surrounded by luggage and college essentials. As I stepped out to help, a disheveled stranger appeared out of nowhere, his unkempt hair and wild gaze making me uneasy. I quickly dismissed his offer to help, hoping he would disappear.
But fate had other plans. Randy struggled to remove the last lug nut, and the stranger, who introduced himself as Aaron, revealed that he was a mechanic. He offered to take Randy to an auto parts store down the road to fetch the right tool. Despite my initial reservations, Randy accepted, and they sped off in Aaron’s rickety old pickup truck.
When they returned, Aaron effortlessly removed the lug nut and changed the tire. As we prepared to part ways, Randy discreetly handed Aaron a generous sum of money, exceeding what I thought was fair. Aaron’s eyes welled up with tears, and his voice trembled as he expressed his gratitude. I felt a pang of shame, realizing my hasty judgment had almost denied us a chance to help someone in need.
As it turned out, Aaron had recently lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet. He had run out of gas and was waiting for his father to send him money to refill his tank. Yet, he chose to help us, despite his own difficulties. This unexpected encounter taught me a valuable lesson: don’t judge a book by its cover. God had brought us together to help each other, and in doing so, reminded me to extend mercy and compassion to those I meet.
As Aaron drove away, a smile on his face, I couldn’t help but wonder: did God send Aaron to help us, or us to help Aaron? The answer, I realized, was both. And in that moment, I was grateful for the reminder that God supplies all our needs, often through unexpected means.
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