Angels

I have been thinking about how much the responses of the people who helped us reflected their own perceptions of our situation. A couple, a woman and two children stranded by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere (Okay, so it wasn't nowhere, just 30 km to the nearest town) to most is just a spectacle, to some, an annoyance, an unwanted view from their front window. But to a few it is a sign that something needs remedying. Janet stopped to offer help. One couple out of a few hundred stopped to ask if we needed anything. Three (or more) patrol officers came to help, made calls and arrangements. And in the same spirit, this couple,

John and Gail Rose, of Oakwood Grove Baptist Church, requested the use of their church van and insisted on driving us ALL THE WAY HOME, to Spartanburg, to our house. They refused payment and offers of dinner. We learned that this is something that the Roses often do for stranded motorists. Sometimes--often, they arrange transportation for the people who are left after a car accident. Those without the friend or loved one they started the journey with, sad people, grieving people, broken people. John and Gail are people who see where help is needed and provide it, kindly, generously, asking nothing in return.
Now, I wonder, how many fewer hurt or broken people there would be in the world, how many fewer fights and wars there would be if our better nature ruled as it does in all of those who did their bit to help us?