To Liz, with Love from Alex

Oh how I love my big sister, and when I drew her name, I knew I was going to be able to do something very special for her this year. Our tradition of doing service for someone that would be special to that specific individual, gives us an opportunity to think of that person all year long looking at what might be important or special to that person. I was lucky enough to have Heavenly Father give me direct revelation for the gift I was to do this year.

When the Kirkby's were en route to Utah this year to drop off Sister Kirkby at the MTC, they had some unfortunate car trouble that prevented them from having the whole family join on the expedition. When I think back over the last few years, I recognize that Liz has drawn the short straw on car issues more often than many people. So I absolutely knew my opportunity when I saw it present itself.

I was sitting in the waiting room at Grease Monkey's on 104th south and Redwood Road, waiting to get my oil changed. I saw a woman with her daughter, I would estimate to be about Alison's age, come in to talk with the worker. I promise I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but it just happened that way. The worker got her information, and then I hear the following conversation:

WORKER: We completed your safety inspection, and everything passed, except your brakes. 

WOMAN: Okay? How bad is it?

WORKER: They are in bad shape. To be honest, I would be careful driving this car until you get that taken care of. 

WOMAN: Okay, let me call my cousin and see if we can do it today.

So the lady walks out and starts talking on her cell phone. I notice the little girl is wearing a coat that is too big, possibly either a hand-me-down, or bought at the D.I. The woman looked quite frazzled as she  was trying to address this issue. When she came in, the conversation continued.

WOMAN: Well, we just don't have the money for it now. If we try to come back next month, will we have to pay for the inspection again...?

The 2 of them have a conversation about the logistics of the rest of the safety inspection and how long it is good for. My mind races to my own brothers deadly crash. I know things like that just happen sometimes as in David's case, but if something were to happen to this woman's car, and that little girl ended up getting hurt over it, could I REALLY live with myself?

I sat there in the waiting room, looking at my feet, as the woman walked out the door with her daughter in her arms. I heard the door close and my mind is racing.

Just a week earlier we had gotten 2 cats, 1 of which was completely unexpected, which also resulted in extra expenses, not to mention the trip(s) to the vet for that cat as it got sick, and died in my arms just the previous weekend. We were trying to plan out Christmas expenses, We didn't go to the reunion because we were trying to save money. It was CERTAINLY not in the cards for me to handle this situation on my own. I look up through the window, and see the woman putting her daughter into her car seat. I close my eyes and I hear the spirit whisper "Alex, if this is how you act when I give you a prompting, then it will be harder for you to receive these in the future."
I open my eyes and I'm halfway out the door already, confused at my feets spontaneous motion, I begin to run, and knock on the woman's window as she is starting her car. She had a VERY frightened look on her face, and rolled down her window just a bit to talk to me to see what this crazy man wanted to talk to her about. I told her to come back inside - that it would all be taken care of.

I walk back in, and I approach the worker, and I told her I needed to take care of that woman's brakes. The worker raises an eyebrow and looks me over quizzically. I told her "I wouldn't forgive myself if she got in an accident and I could have done something to prevent it, but I didn't." The arrangements were made, I gave them my card, all before the woman even came back into the waiting room. She took about 5 minutes talking on her phone again before she came back in to approach me.

She asked what this was all about, and I explain to her about our service opportunities, and that I knew if Liz could have had a person step in to cover one of her crazy car expenses, that she would have been VERY grateful. What better way to give a gift to my sister, than providing a service that someone so desperately needed.

I debated whether I should share this experience on this blog, or if I should just send it in a private email to Liz on Christmas. When I asked Dad and Mom about it, they made it clear that it isn't the cost involved that matters, its the giving of the service. So Merry Christmas Liz! Please travel back home safely with that family of yours!