Unexpected Happiness

Yesterday I took my husband to the doctor, an office that is known for running late. While we were waiting to see the doctor, I noticed a middle aged man who kept coming into the office to ask if they had steel wool or soap. He mentioned that he was trying to get a minivan started that was in the parking lot. A few minutes later we were called back to see the doctor and I quickly forgot about the man and his problems because let's face it, I've got problems of my own.
Like I said before, the doctor was running 45 minutes late, I had kids that would be dropped off by the bus any  minute at home and I was not there. I had to put away groceries that were in my car, make dinner, help with homework,  finish some laundry and get everyone in my house ready for the next day. But, here I was at the doctors office...waiting.
After finally seeing the doctor, my husband and I went to checkout and leave. As soon as I opened the office door I saw the man with the dilapidated minivan. There were two women, another man, and a teenage boy in the van and it was warm outside. It became apparent that the man who was trying to start the van had his hands full. I did not mention it earlier, but we were at the psychiatrist's office, my husband was wounded in Iraq and sees the psychiatrist once a month. The other people in the van looked almost homeless, they were in bad shape and you knew that some of them were just not right. I thought to myself, "Lord, please don't let him make eye contact, I have so much to do at home and I need to get there". I knew as soon as I thought it that it was wrong and before I had time to think again, I heard the words, "Need any help?" come out of my mouth.
All they needed was someone who had jumper cables and was willing take five minutes to jump off the minivan. I had both.
As soon as the engine turned over all the people in the van started to clap, a response I did not expect. The man told us that they had all been waiting for someone to stop and help them for almost an hour, but with a nod into the van he said, "Most folks take one look and run the other way." One of the women got out and hugged me. It was evident these people were grateful.
As I finally got my husband into the car to go home, I started to think about each of those souls in the minivan, all are important. Sometimes it just takes a few moments of your day to make the day of another human.
That's life...as I see it,
-april