A cute little old lady was standing in between the gas pumps. She was searching for something, and looked like she needed help, and even looked a little confused.
I had just parked my car as far away from the gas pumps and the gas station (Kwik Trip, Inc. of course). I didn’t need gas, I didn’t need food. Honestly, I just needed pee.
I was in a hurry and traveling for work so I was hoping to make this a true pit stop - in and out, fast!
As I stepped out of my car the old lady locked eyes with me. My first thought (shame on me) was she’s going to ask me for money..
As I walked closer to her, she didn’t take her eyes off me. I approached her and smiled.
She said “excuse me sir, do you think you could help me?”
I responded with something along the lines of “I might be able to. What do you need help with?”
She said her car was beeping at her. She thought it might be the tires.
I agreed to take a look and help out even though I was in a hurry.
She brought me over to the car, which she had already parked next to the air pump machine.
When I got to the car, I saw that she wasn’t alone. There were 4 other little old ladies huddled in the car, just smiling at me. Every single one of them reminded me of my grandma.
They told me they get together 1 time per week for lunch and try out a new restaurant every time.
I got to work on checking the tires. It was the pressure sensor that was beeping - she was right!
Her tires had good air pressure. No leaks. But I noticed the red and yellow dots on the tires so she must have gotten some tire work done recently.
I showed her how to reset her tire pressure sensor. I let her know it might go off one more time and she might have to reset it herself again, and if it goes off a third time to take the car back to the mechanic.
She and the group of little old ladies were SO thankful. They offered me money, and I told them to keep the money and make sure they bought dessert at their lunch today.
Before leaving them to be on their way though, something was bothering me….
Why me?
There were others closer to her than I was by the gas pumps..
Why did she seek me out?
I thought to myself - it must be because I am dressed nice, and because I smiled at her, maybe it was that I generally look friendly, or maybe it’s because I am the only one who looked her in the eye?
I didn’t have an answer. But I needed to know.
Why me?
So I asked her. “Out of everyone here, why did you ask me to help you.”
She said “You drive a Mazda like I do!”
I chuckled to myself, because here I thought it was because I looked nice or friendly.
Nope, it was because we both drove a Mazda.
She knew I would be familiar with her car.
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My lesson here is:
You never know who, what, when, why, how, and in what capacity you will be called to serve or lead.
You have lived experiences that are unique only to you.
Be ready to help.
Be ready to serve.
Be ready to lead.
You never know when you will be called upon to serve.
Week 7 of 52
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