Nails are quite handy when hanging pictures and fixing fences, unless you hit one of your fingernails instead of the iron ones. “Ouch!” There are times, however, when we find nails in very unwanted places. Take a tire, for example!

We were driving back from a memorable trip to Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia. The weather had been extra nice to us, and we were singing as our car headed East on Highway 103. Suddenly a vehicle pulled up in the left lane beside us, perfectly matching our speed. I didn’t notice the vehicle at first, until one of my sons pointed out that someone wanted to talk to me.

“What do you mean someone wants to talk to me? I’m driving down the highway!”

“Just look at that car on your left!”

Sure enough, the guy driving next to me had rolled his window down and was gesturing madly. I had no idea what he wanted, so I cautiously lowered my window, trying to multi-task: Attempting to drive my car and still figure out what he was trying to tell me!

I finally managed to make out his message: “Your back tire is low!”

Then, as soon as I uttered the words, “Thank you”, he saluted and drove off ahead of me. This was utterly incredible to me. Someone cared enough to take the time to find a way to warn us of a flat tire. Whoever you are, if you read this, I want to thank you!

As for me, I took the next exit, the one for Beechville, Nova Scotia, and after a brief stop at a gas station where we discovered that our right back tire was indeed heading for disaster, we slowly drove to Lakeside Automotive.

The mechanic there listened to our plight with compassion. We were on our way to pick my wife up from the airport. We had no means of contacting her, and our tire was now completely non-cooperative. His response? “No problem”! And he immediately set to work rectifying our rebellious tire.

The two customers waiting for repairs to their car looked at us with gaping mouths and popping eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, wondering if there was ketchup on my nose.

“It’s unheard of to find someone willing to fix a tire on a Friday afternoon! This is unbelievable!”

It sure was! But it wasn’t long before the mechanic returned with a smile on his face and a curved nail in his hand.

“I have found the culprit,” he said, “I will file it away for you!” And he “filed” it into his garbage can. Quite a nifty place to store things!

The service at Lakeside Automotive was indeed unbelievable. They were not only fast, but they were also caring and polite. I wish they would consider moving west where we live!

We left with even more praise songs on our lips, especially since my wife’s plane was twenty-five minutes late, and we didn’t miss her arrival after all! God is so good!

Did you that notice even when we face trials, there is always plenty of reason to praise the Lord? But why wouldn’t we? We can always rely on Him in good times as well as in bad. May we learn from Heb 13:15-16: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” NIV

P. S. We had lots of opportunity for sacrifices of praise this year in regards to nails in our tires. Would you believe it that we encountered 4 such occasions in one simple summer alone? And each time we had a reason to praise our God. But our experience at Lakeside Automotive was quite unique. I sure love the people of Nova Scotia!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “The Heart of the Matter” devotional series, please click here.)