Last Friday mid-morning, as I was driving South-bound along the freeway, I passed by a car sitting about 30 feet away slightly down a hill in the ditch between bushes and trees. The car was only visible after you had almost driven by. There was a long track in the grass, emergency lights on, but no one around.
There was no place to pull over, so I ended up driving to the next exit. Unfortunately, while heading back North-bound, I was not able to spot the car. Again, I took the next exit just to get back onto the South-bound freeway. I put my emergency lights on, slowed everyone behind me down, and I pulled over as soon as I saw the car in the ditch. Still, no one had stopped yet.
It was raining, the ground was soaked and muddy, but who cares in a moment like this? I ran down to the car, not knowing what to expect. A person with a heart attack? Badly injured? It turned out the driver was fine, only a little shaken. No, he didn’t need help and no, I didn’t need to stay with him until the tow truck came. He thanked me repeatedly for checking on him. Of course, I checked on him.
There are plenty of ways in our daily lives to show others that we care, it doesn’t need to be as extreme as checking on a driver involved in a car accident.
When a colleague’s child is sick, go and ask your coworker about the healing progress. A neighbor’s parent is in the hospital, go next door and bring a dish for dinner while their thoughts are with their loved one. A friend had surgery not long ago, maybe you can do a load of laundry for them or accompany them to a follow-up appointment.
Know of someone who worries? Call them, send a card. Make sure they know that they are not alone.
Brighten their day and be a rainbow in their cloud!
Wishing you a week filled with care towards you and others,
Christine
