A stranger's gift

By Lorraine Smith Smucker

Snow was in the forecast , but it was only a 50-mile drive into Cleveland, so I went ahead with my plans to get some last-minute gifts. After several hours of successful shopping, I got back into my car and started for home.

By then, it was snowing so hard I could barely see the road in front of me. Then suddenly, one of my rear tires began to go flat. I managed to pull over to the side of the road safely, but I didn't know what to do next.

I had changed a tire myself, but that was years before when you could raise the car by putting the jack under the bumper. I had no idea how to change a tire on my new car with its funny little jack. So I just sat there for a few minutes ... and prayed.

Soon I felt very sure that God was right with me and would help me. So I said, "OK, Father, what do I do now?"

The answer came: "Do what you can do!"

Immediately, I recalled a story about a destitute woman in the Bible who was told by a prophet to use what she had available (see II Kings 4:1–7). This had brought her into greater prosperity.

Well, I thought, at least I can get out and open the trunk. I did, and crawled way into its depths to reach the tire jack. I could hear the sound of the cars as they rushed by on the highway. Then one slowed down and came to a stop.

I looked out of the trunk and saw, about 50 feet away, a dilapidated old car. Its door swung open, and a big, bearded man in dirty-looking clothes got out and started walking toward me.

My first thought was, "Oh, no!"

But then I thought, "What God provides for us is wholly good."

By that time, the man had reached my car. He said, "It looks like you need some help."

What lovely words. The man said he had once worked in a garage and could easily change the tire—but he needed the tire key. Well, I didn't even know that there was such a thing as a tire key. But then immediately I remembered having seen something that looked like a metal cross in my glove compartment. Sure enough, it turned out to be the tire key. In no time at all, he had changed the tire.

The only money I could find in my purse to pay him was a 50-dollar bill. So I gave it to him, along with my thanks.

He said, "Oh, I can't take that for such a little job."

But I said, "Oh, it isn't for the little job, but for your great kindness."

Well, the eyes of that big, rough-looking man filled with tears. He said he had two children and hadn't known where he was going to get the money to buy them Christmas gifts. He thanked me warmly and went on his way.

I think we were both touched by the Christ—God's lovingkindness—that night. And I think we both knew it.

For ye shall go out with joy,
and be led forth with peace:
the mountains and the hills
shall break forth before you into singing,
and all the trees of the field
shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

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