There are those people who you know will go out of their way to do whatever it is that you need. I want to be one of those people; I want to be someone who cares about friends and neighbors enough to do for them, as I would want them to do for me, when I’m in need.
The other day I received a call from a fellow church member asking if I would watch their young daughter while both parents were busy. Now, being that I just had a baby not quite two weeks ago, I was surprised he asked but I was willing and able. Their daughter and my three play together very well, even though their daughter is a bit older than my crew. I knew I would hardly see the children the whole evening.
Three hours in to her stay, her mother called to say she would be there shortly to pick her up (a little later than we’d discussed, but it wasn’t an issue in any way). Well, the 15 minutes went by, no mom. 30 minutes. 45 minutes! I wasn’t worried as I know this friend can get caught up visiting or get sidetracked easily. The children were playing well and I was just going with it.
The phone rings. I assumed it is my friend calling to apologize and tell me why she was so late.
“Hi. I rolled my truck!” I had to have her repeat it a number of times. She was so shaken and her words were unclear that I didn’t understand her. But then I got it! I offered to call 911. She denied. I said I would send my hubby. He was on his way out before I was done on the phone. She said she was fine but wasn’t sure she could get out of the truck.
The rest of the evening dragged as I didn’t really received any updates at first. I didn’t want to worry the children so I just said she was running late and that they should color quietly until she arrived. Still nothing. We are going on an hour now that she is “running late” and her daughter asked why and where is she. So I told her and she handled it very well! My girls were more upset. They continued to color and actually made pictures for our friend. Finally my hubby brought her home from the hospital and not long after her husband arrived to take her and their daughter home. She only had bumps and bruises, big bruises! And she was still shaking a little.
They thanked us as they left and I said to them, “No worries at all. She’s a good kid. And I know, you would do the same, if it were us.” They agreed that they would.
There are those people who you KNOW will go above and beyond the call of duty. There are those people who would never leave you stranded. They are the people who put others ahead of themselves every time! These are the givers in the world. This family is this kind of “people” and they are raising three more givers! And I thank God for this family often!
