| General Fiction posted November 6, 2022 |
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Is it payback time?
Random Act of Kindness
by Terry Broxson
Note: I have elected not to use quotation marks in the telling of the story. I would ask the reader to consider themselves a member of the Rotary Club as they listen to the speaker.
In December 2021, Doug Wolfe was asked to speak to the Rotary Club of Dallas, Texas.
I've been a retired minister for almost ten years. I've witnessed many wondrous sights of God's love. I want to tell you about one person's simple act, which had great meaning. It happened thirty years ago. If you are old enough to remember, only a few people had cell phones in 1991.
I served as a pastor at a Methodist Church in Midland, Texas. It was the week before Thanksgiving. I'd been volunteering at Midland Memorial Hospital as a minister on call. One of the nurses came to me and told me a young woman in the lobby waiting room seemed distressed. She asked me if I could talk to her.
The young lady in her early twenties was sitting with a small suitcase at her feet and softly crying.
I approached her and said, Nurse Stevens, asked me to talk to you. I'm Reverend Wolfe with the Redeemer Methodist Church of Midland. I wonder if I might be of some help.
She said, Reverend, my name is Nicole. I'm sorry to make a scene, but I don't know what to do.
I inquired, Nicole, tell me what's wrong.
She said I live in Big Spring. (forty miles away) I had a miscarriage after being pregnant for two and a half months. I was discharged this morning. I've been waiting three hours for my boyfriend to pick me up and take me home.
I asked her, Do you think he is on his way?
She replied, I don't know; maybe not.
I asked, is there anyone I could call for you?
Shaking her head, she said, no, nobody knew about me being pregnant except my boyfriend, and I don't want to tell people right now, not like this. I could take a cab to the bus station and then a bus to Big Spring, but I don't have any money.
I suggested she sit there for a moment; and let me see if I could find any help.
As I was walking to the nurse's station, a fellow approached me and said, Reverend, I've been sitting in the waiting room as my father is to be released soon, but I couldn't help but notice and overhear some of your conversation with the young lady.
I didn't want to go into any detail. I told the man she had a transportation problem and needed money to get to Big Spring.
The fellow reached in his pocket, peeled off ten twenty dollar bills from a money clip, and said, see if this will help.
I went to Nicole and told her about the man's offer. She said, Okay, but only if he accepts a check from me for the two hundred dollars.
The man said that would be fine. I never saw the man again.
A week later, I told my congregation this story in my Sunday sermon. I suggested to the members of our church you all probably think the man did a nice thing by cashing her check, and I would agree. But folks, yesterday, as I was preparing this sermon, I got a call from Nicole.
She said, Reverend Wolfe, I'm embarrassed to tell you the check I gave you for the man's money was no good; it will bounce from here to Dallas.
I responded, Nicole, I'm not sure what to say; I don't know the man's name or how to get in touch with him.
I could hear the emotion in her voice. She said, today, I got an envelope in the mail with no return address; my check was in the envelope, torn up in eight pieces, with no note. There was also a folded hundred-dollar bill.
She asked, Reverend, how did he know?
I pointed out that her name and address were printed on the check.
She again implored with more emotion, yes, I know, but how did he know the check wasn't good?
I wanted my congregation to know the same thing I said to Nicole and speak to you today. Friends, there is no expectation of payback for a random act of kindness.
If you find yourself able to provide an act of kindness, or should you need such an act, remember this; seek, and you will find. Let's keep that in our hearts and minds this Christmas season.
***
After Reverend Wolfe finished his story, several people came up and introduced themselves and thanked him for speaking. One older man shook his hand and said, "Reverend, I enjoyed your story, but I think you got one thing wrong."
"What was that?"
"Her name wasn't Nicole; it was Emily."
A smile began to widen as it turned into a laugh, and misty eyes developed. Reverend Wolfe opened his arms, hugged the man, and said, "Right you are, kind sir."
Story of the Month contest entry
Note: I have elected not to use quotation marks in the telling of the story. I would ask the reader to consider themselves a member of the Rotary Club as they listen to the speaker.
In December 2021, Doug Wolfe was asked to speak to the Rotary Club of Dallas, Texas.
I've been a retired minister for almost ten years. I've witnessed many wondrous sights of God's love. I want to tell you about one person's simple act, which had great meaning. It happened thirty years ago. If you are old enough to remember, only a few people had cell phones in 1991.
I served as a pastor at a Methodist Church in Midland, Texas. It was the week before Thanksgiving. I'd been volunteering at Midland Memorial Hospital as a minister on call. One of the nurses came to me and told me a young woman in the lobby waiting room seemed distressed. She asked me if I could talk to her.
The young lady in her early twenties was sitting with a small suitcase at her feet and softly crying.
I approached her and said, Nurse Stevens, asked me to talk to you. I'm Reverend Wolfe with the Redeemer Methodist Church of Midland. I wonder if I might be of some help.
She said, Reverend, my name is Nicole. I'm sorry to make a scene, but I don't know what to do.
I inquired, Nicole, tell me what's wrong.
She said I live in Big Spring. (forty miles away) I had a miscarriage after being pregnant for two and a half months. I was discharged this morning. I've been waiting three hours for my boyfriend to pick me up and take me home.
I asked her, Do you think he is on his way?
She replied, I don't know; maybe not.
I asked, is there anyone I could call for you?
Shaking her head, she said, no, nobody knew about me being pregnant except my boyfriend, and I don't want to tell people right now, not like this. I could take a cab to the bus station and then a bus to Big Spring, but I don't have any money.
I suggested she sit there for a moment; and let me see if I could find any help.
As I was walking to the nurse's station, a fellow approached me and said, Reverend, I've been sitting in the waiting room as my father is to be released soon, but I couldn't help but notice and overhear some of your conversation with the young lady.
I didn't want to go into any detail. I told the man she had a transportation problem and needed money to get to Big Spring.
The fellow reached in his pocket, peeled off ten twenty dollar bills from a money clip, and said, see if this will help.
I went to Nicole and told her about the man's offer. She said, Okay, but only if he accepts a check from me for the two hundred dollars.
The man said that would be fine. I never saw the man again.
A week later, I told my congregation this story in my Sunday sermon. I suggested to the members of our church you all probably think the man did a nice thing by cashing her check, and I would agree. But folks, yesterday, as I was preparing this sermon, I got a call from Nicole.
She said, Reverend Wolfe, I'm embarrassed to tell you the check I gave you for the man's money was no good; it will bounce from here to Dallas.
I responded, Nicole, I'm not sure what to say; I don't know the man's name or how to get in touch with him.
I could hear the emotion in her voice. She said, today, I got an envelope in the mail with no return address; my check was in the envelope, torn up in eight pieces, with no note. There was also a folded hundred-dollar bill.
She asked, Reverend, how did he know?
I pointed out that her name and address were printed on the check.
She again implored with more emotion, yes, I know, but how did he know the check wasn't good?
I wanted my congregation to know the same thing I said to Nicole and speak to you today. Friends, there is no expectation of payback for a random act of kindness.
If you find yourself able to provide an act of kindness, or should you need such an act, remember this; seek, and you will find. Let's keep that in our hearts and minds this Christmas season.
***
After Reverend Wolfe finished his story, several people came up and introduced themselves and thanked him for speaking. One older man shook his hand and said, "Reverend, I enjoyed your story, but I think you got one thing wrong."
"What was that?"
"Her name wasn't Nicole; it was Emily."
A smile began to widen as it turned into a laugh, and misty eyes developed. Reverend Wolfe opened his arms, hugged the man, and said, "Right you are, kind sir."
 Recognized |
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I posted this story as fiction because some elements are fiction. However, for the most part, this story is true.
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