I wish I could say that I’m always prepared for emergencies. But I’m not. I do have a cell phone, but they have their limits, too.

I was dressed for a meeting the other day and certainly not expecting to change a tire in a business suit. But, life is filled with the unexpected.

I pulled into a local convenience store parking lot and began to change the tire.

It was snowing and bitterly cold that day, but I did what I had to do.

A young man coming out of the store stopped to offer his assistance.

“Is there anything I can do to help you?” the man asked.

“Why yes, I was counting on you to do just that,” I replied.

“Well, I’m sure someone would have stopped to help,” the man assured me.

“No, it had to be you,” I said.

“Sir, I don’t even know you,” he said. “Why would you expect me to stop?”

“Because you had to.”

“I really didn’t have to stop at all. In fact, I don’t normally travel this way. So this was all by chance that I saw you here.”

“By chance? It’s never by chance. It’s on purpose.”

“Whatever! Let me change this tire for you.”

He went about his business and carefully, quickly changed the flat tire.

“There you go. It’s finished. Now, make sure you get that tire repaired or replaced right away. You don’t want to have this happen again without a spare tire,” he said.

“My friend, I need to give you this,” I said as I held my hand out toward him.

“No, please, I don’t want any money. I can’t take a thing from you. It only took a few minutes.”

“I insist!” I said firmly.

“No, really I can’t.”

“Okay, no money. But this isn’t money. This is why I said I was “Counting on you!”

I then wrapped his hand around a small piece of paper, held it tightly for a moment and thanked him.

The man returned to his car and I watched him in my rear view mirror.

As I expected, his curiosity got the best of him and he eagerly opened the note.

by Bob Perks http://www.IWishYouEnough.com

There are strangers you’ll see in your travels today, People in need along the way It might be a smile or kind word will do I hope you know they’re counting on you.

In the hurry and rush of the world this day Life may be a challenge with no time for play But you are caring and compassionate, too You’ll still find the time, they’re counting on you.

Not everyone does it, so many ask “why?” “If I needed help, no one would try!” But God made you special you know that it’s true You have to do it, He’s counting on you!”

The young man sat quietly in his car for a moment. He had answered the voice inside that would not permit him to look the other way. He found time when he thought there wasn’t any time.

Norman Vincent Peale said, “Things we do for us die with us. Things we do for others live for eternity.”

Who’s “counting on you” today?

Bob Perks Bob@BobPerks.com