A family member told me about the most horrible night she has ever experienced. I listened in amazement as this young warrior described the events of that dark night.  I discussed one of the events with David. He immediately said, “The Good Samaritan”.  That led me to reread the story.

It was her birthday. The beginning of this horrid night started from her willingness and  compassion to do a good deed for a young girl, away at school, who desperately wanted to spend the weekend.  The young warrior empathized. She and her fiancé scraped enough gas money to travel the few hours, knowing there was no extra money, no AAA , for anything unexpected. Just faith…

The Unexpected Did Happen

It was past midnight, after being lost for hours, due to an interstate detour, they ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. They looked around and saw a long driveway leading to a large Walmart Distribution Center. It was raining hard as they walked up the driveway, caught the attention of a very surly security guard. He addressed them in an unfriendly and threatening manner and preceded to make a bad situation worse…  When they explained their dilemma, he told them they had to leave and walk to a gas station. He explained the only gas station was miles away. Embarrassingly, they said they had no money for gas. He told them he was a Christian and gave them a Christian Pamphlet and let them go. Soon the security guard reluctantly returned with a two gallon gas can and offered to drive them to the gas station. He gave them two dollars. While helping them get the car started, after being drained from all its fuel, he used their flashlight several times, because he didn’t have one of his own. They offered it to him as the only possession they had to repay him. The security guard insultingly replied “I don’t want that. I have all kinds of those sort of toys.”

Pay it Forward

Another employee, who heard about the situation, walked down the long driveway and told them he would be off work in a few minutes. He asked them to wait until he could follow them back to the gas station. They did. The Good Samaritan, who passed no judgment, made no accusatory remarks and demonstrating only caring and love, filled their tank. They insisted on sending him repayment. He said “No. Just pay it forward.” They shared with the kind stranger that, that was their belief as well. I know the brave warrior had tears of joy and relief in her eyes, as she thanked him from the bottom of her heart.

I mentioned to the young warrior how much her experience reminded me of the Good Samaritan. She asked me to refresh her memory. She said “I want to know what happened to the robbed man.” She continued, “Almost always, when I go beyond to help someone else, it ends up hurting me.”  It made my heart ache to hear how she has been affected by her past attempts to put others needs before her own. She sacrificed her birthday evening and her Mothers Day, out of compassion for the teenager…

Here is the story she asked for. This is what Jesus said about “ Love thy neighbor as thyself ”:

Luke 10:27-37
27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
30And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
37And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

I will always strive to be a “Good Samaritan.” Love to all my readers, Lucy