Yesterday morning, as I was doing my good deed of the day by
giving my cousin a ride, someone else did me a good deed. I was singling to
turn out of the parking lot at his apartment when the nearby light turned red,
and traffic was starting to back up. I figured we’d be stuck there until the light
changed, right up until one fellow in a white pickup stopped well short of that
driveway, allowing me to enter the flow of traffic as soon as the light turned green!
What a nice change of pace. I just wish I could give this
stranger a shout out by name. I also wish people would do good deeds all year round,
not just at Christmas time.
I for one try to help when I can. Ergo giving my cousin that
ride. I’m not doing it because it’s December, I’m not doing it for #Lighttheworld,
I’m doing it because he’s family and he needs rides. This isn’t a December
thing and I won’t stop once December is over.
I’ll keep giving him and my sister-in-law rides year-round.
Just like I offer the local sister missionaries rides. Giving people rides is
something I can do, and I will do it no matter what time of year it is.
Like back in January or February when I was leaving my
friend’s house as a woman walking past and she asked me if there was a bus stop along that road.
“Um, not that I know of, but I don’t live on this street.”
She thanked me and kept walking, as I got in my car all I
could think about was the Winco bags she had, and the fact she couldn’t be all
that close to home if she was asking about the bus, and about how cold it was.
I got in my car, caught up with her, and offered her a ride.
Turns out she was clear across town from where she lived. It
would have taken her hours to walk that far. I’m glad I offered her a ride.
On the converse, I’m appreciative of all the people who were
so willing to give me rides when I was without a car for two years. The list is
so long I’m sure I couldn’t name them all, but I’m going to try.
We can start with Dan Clark who dropped everything to come pick
up me and my sister-in-law the night of the accident, and Jessica Baxter who
hurried over to watch his boys so he could do so! And of course, to Jessica
again for all the rides she willingly gave me over the time I was without a
car, thanks so much.
Others who gave me rides were Sister Moore, Danie Renee Corral, several
members of the Burgoyne family, the Bishop, Brother and Sister Henry, Brother
and Sister Wardrip, and Sister Buckley, and then some, but that doesn’t cover
all the people who gave me rides years ago when Tom had the car or that one
time when our car was in the shop.
So, I have to give shout-outs to the likes of Sister Harmon,
Ann Loveland, and several other sisters from my old ward (congregation) who gave
me lifts when I needed them. Most importantly, I want to acknowledge Ann
Loveland, who out of the blue called me saying she got to thinking about me
stuck at home all day without a car (knowing that unlike her and her husband, we
only had one vehicle) and offered to give me rides to town, since she went into
town every Monday thru Friday afternoon.
She had no way of knowing our car had just gone into the shop,
and while Tom had a ride to and from work, we had no way to get to the store, or
that I had been praying for a way to get to the store. Her offer was a Godsend and
an answer to my prayers.
But I know other people who are so in tune with the Holy
Spirit that they are just there when you need them most.
Julia Rasmussen is another one. She seems to always be the
first to know when someone needs help and she’s there to offer whatever service
she can. She’s more than a friend, she’s a true servant of the Lord. I’m
thankful for all these people in my life, and so many more, I know I haven’t named
them all. I doubt I could remember all the names of people who have given me
rides over the years.
Then again, I don’t even know the names of some of the people
I’ve given rides to over the years. It wasn’t important.
What is important is sharing that light.
Happy writing everyone. And Merry Christmas!
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