Back up to July with me....Two weeks before our summer Road Trip. Publix (my local grocery store) had a fabulous special on Shell or BP Gas Gift Cards. With a coupon from their weekly ad, purchase a $50 Gift Card and receive $10 off.(Now, it is no secret that math and numbers make me anxious, but that is math I can understand.)
Anyhow, on with the story....
To make this sale even more fabulous...NO LIMIT to how many you purchased as long as you had a coupon.
Well, Mr Ron grabbed a stack of weekly Sale Fliers and started clipping those coupons until he had a nice little stack.
I headed to my local store and guess what...everyone in town had grabbed a stack of those Sale Fliers and used the coupons. I purchased the last 2 Shell Cards and called Mr Ron. We developed a strategy to divide and conquer various stores in the area and, alas, we had a STACK of these Gas Cards ready for our road trip and beyond. In fact, we still have a nice little stash of these Gift Cards, of which I am using each week when I visit the gas station.
Now...For the Real Story, move with me to YESTERDAY....routinely filling up my car at the BP Station. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a young man pushing his Green Volkswagen Jetta up to a Gas Pump. I did not think much of this other than, I am glad he made to a Gas Pump while he was Running On Empty.
Moments later, this young man is approaching me and I am thinking ....Oh, No... I hope I don't get robbed. As he get closer, he explains the following details:
- He left his wallet at home (yeah right, that is what they all say, I first thought)
- Can I give him 2-3 dollars just to get enough gas in his tank OR
- Can I put some gas directly into his Gas Can
Something in me says......HELP THIS MAN....he is telling the truth...FILL his Gas Tank. So, without hesitation, I say, "Here, take this BP Gas Gift Card, it has a balance on it that will fill your tank and perhaps your Gas Can."
He said, "No, that is too much, I don't want to take this. It is too much". I insisted and then told him to go do something nice for someone else. I told him...someday, it might be me who is Running on Empty and someone will take care of me.
A few more minutes of conversation revealed that his day had been very rough. A Green Volkswagen Jetta (NOT HIS) had been involved in a hit and run of Sheriff earlier in the day, so he had been stopped in the WM parking lot for questioning where his car remained running...hence, he ran out of gas before he could go home to pick up his wallet. He had ID with him, thankfully. Being detained by the Sheriff caused him to miss a job interview...etc. He was Running on Empty at every turn.
He got very choked up and asked if he could hug me (I was on the other side of my car door with the window open). He shook my hand, thanked me, and went to fill up his car.
Every one Runs on Empty at some point in life. I am thankful for those with Full Tanks who have helped me fill up and get back on the road.
Have You Ever Had a "Pay It Forward" Experience? Has anyone ever helped you when you were Running on Empty? Share....
7 comments:
I love a full tank type of story. You're always good for one. Thank you for your good example. I bet that made you feel SO much better. After my baby shower on Saturday (which happened to be at a church building) a guy and his wife broke down from running out of gas. All he asked was which was the closest gas station was. It was far and it was only 100ยบ outside. So I told him to hang on, I bet we can find someone to take you to get gas. My brother finished cleaning up and took him to get some gas. When they got back, he put the gas in his tank and he couldn't get it to start up. His battery had died. So I watched my older brother do exactly what my Eldest Brother would want him to do, he helped until the guy could safely drive away. Talk about warming up the heart of a hormonal pregnant woman!
I have tears in my eyes from this story.Not only did you help the young man with gas,you also brought light to his day.I can only imagine how good he felt the rest of the day from your good deed.Dan works at Pepsi so he frequents gas stations,he too has been ask for help with enough gas to get them to their destinations.He has helped a couple of people by sliding his debit card and pumping enough gas to get them home.
In 1995 I was working at a temp job downtown for some attorneys and five or six months pregnant when on the way home in gridlock traffic my car died. Some people gave me a ride in their air-conditioned minivan, out of their way, and said they were happy to help, that someday they were sure I would help someone in need because that's the way it works. It was really a blessing.
Great story, thanks for sharing. Don't you wish you had Books of Mormon on hand for times like these?
I love it! We occasionally will pay
for the order behind us in the drive thru -like at Sonic. We ask how much is their bill & it's always been small -we just pay it.
It's fun.
Catching up on your latest! I feel for you -new PTA President job!whew
What a great story! I love the idea of "pay it forward". Everyone should look for these opportunities more often!
just another reason why we love you so much!
your generosity.
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