I had stopped at a gas station and as I stood in the cashier’s line a man suddenly dropped his change over in front of another younger gentleman and said, “Here, brother, take my change and I hope this can help a little”

I looked at the change and was trying to figure out what had just transpired. Why had one stranger just deposited what appeared to be some 80 or 90 cents in front of another?

The recipient of the change looked up and thanked the other man then went back to talking to the cashier.

The gentleman was trying to convince the cashier to give him the gas he needed to get home, but he had no money. He said he could come back with money if they would just trust him. I found out later that he and his wife, had been going through some tough times and he had just landed a job that day.

The cashier was puzzling over how to help him and knew she couldn’t let him have gas without money. IN the meantime another cashier had taken my money and as I stood there, I quickly took the four dollars I had left and gave it to the stranded gentleman. The cashier began thanking me because she had been in a quandary about how to handle things and the gentleman turned to me and said, “Thank you so much, but how can I get this back to you?”

“You don’t, I said. “Instead you help someone else when you get the opportunity. And please, don’t thank me, because you gave me the opportunity of helping. Instead I thank you.”

As I walked away he followed me out the door and began thanking me again and I told him, “No, I truly thank you for allowing me this privilege. God wants me to do this. Believe me, it means a lot to me”

He smiled at me and said. ” I understand.” And, then I knew he did!

By Ellie Braun-Haley shaley@telusplanet.net

Post Script The stranger and I had a short conversation outside and it was during this that he told me about their tough times. He was so excited because he had just landed the job. Now he is also looking forward to coming upon a stranger in need so that he can continue the chain.

Ellie says, I believe that we were meant to help one another and feel that the quote by Liciano de Crescenzo puts it best: “We are like one-winged angels. It’s only when we help each other that we can fly