In Luke chapter 10 of the New Testament, Christ gives the parable of the Good Samaritan.
33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. UAdd a Note
35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
I was prideful and thought I could beat the blizzard that would be smacking Utah around ten o'clock that night. Well, as my luck would have it, the blizzard struck early and I hit a brick wall. I have driven in snow before, I have driven in bad weather conditions, but this was a nightmare.
I was terrified. I couldn't see out my windows. The snow flew at my car head on. The snow was falling so fast, so heavy, and the wind was blowing so hard, that any tire tracks from the cars ahead of me were gone as soon as they were made. I could have been driving off a cliff and wouldn't have known. I was literally driving blind through the mountains and summits of Utah.
I need to skip some info, otherwise this post would be forever long, so all in all I made it to Meadow, UT.
I pulled into the only gas station where I joined about 10-12 other vehicles. My eyes were red and puffy from sobbing and I was a hot mess. My nerves were completely on the fritz, I had no clue where I was, and I just wanted to collapse.
I walked into the gas station where a very nice lady greeted me with a hello, how are you. I couldn't even speak. I forced a smile and nodded. I collapsed onto a bench and watched as the blizzard made life worse. I called a friend in Provo, asking how far I was, when will the storm let up, what should I do. She said she'd call me back and I hung up, after having started crying again.
Woman Behind the Counter: Would you like some hot cocoa?
Me: Uh, sure. How much is it?
WBC: It's on the house. Don't you worry.
She brought me my cocoa and I was still trying to pull it together.
WBC: Are you OK, sweetie? Just a little nervous about the storm?
Me: Yeah. I thought I could beat this. Do you know when it will blow over?
WBC: About one o'clock.
Me: And how long are ya'll open?
WBC: Till eleven.
I looked at the clock and saw that it was ten thirty. I started to cry again.
WBC: It'll be OK. I called my manager and we'll stay open as long as everyone is still here. It'll be OK.
She walked away and I just kind of sunk into myself and tried not to cry for the millionth time that night.
A few minutes later, another woman walked into the store. She was the manager. She went to the woman behind the counter and they started talking. Then she came to talk to me.
Mgr: Sweetie, are you OK?
Me: Yeah. I'm sorry ya'll are staying open for me. I'm just trying to figure out what to do.
Mgr: OK. Well, just let us know if you need anything.
Me: OK. Thanks.
Mgr. You're welcome.
Then, a few snow plows drove by.
Mgr: You know sweetie, if you hop on the road right now, you can follow those snow plows up to Filmore. It's only five miles up the road and they have a couple of hotels there. Do you have any money?
Me: Um, yeah. I should be good.
Mgr. Come here.
The woman lead me over to the counter where she wrote down her home number, the store number, and the bishop in Filmore's number. She then called one of the hotels in Filmore to tell them that she was sending me their way, and they were to leave a room open for me.
Mgr: Now, get on the road and follow those plows. Get off in Filmore, and go to *this* hotel. If you get stuck along the way, or you get lost, or you need help, call the store, then me, then the bishop. If you get to the hotel and need some money, have them call me and they can put it on my card. OK?
Me: Yes, ma'am.
Mgr: OK. You gonna be alright?
Me: Yes, ma'am.
Mgr: OK. Come here.
This woman, a complete and total stranger, then pulled me into a firm hug, again told me everything would be OK, and to be safe.
I left and made it to the hotel in Filmore. When I got there, as soon as I told the hotel clerk my name, she immediately knew who I was.
HC: Oh! You're the girl they said they were sending. I'll make sure to let Mary know you're alright and made it safe.
Not only had the manager reserved a hotel room for me, offered me help and money, she had asked the hotel clerk to give her verification that I made it there safely.
That night those two women showed me the true meaning of service.
Thomas S. Monson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, said, "Our service to others may not be so dramatic, but we can bolster human spirits, clothe cold bodies, feed hungry people, comfort grieving hearts, and lift to new heights precious souls ... We have no way of knowing when our privilege to extend a helping hand will unfold before us. The road to Jericho each of us travels bears no name, and the weary traveler who needs our help may be one unknown. Altogether too frequently, the recipient of kindness shown fails to express his feelings, and we are deprived of a glimpse of greatness and a touch of tenderness that motivates us to go and do likewise."
President Monson also said, "My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us."
To those two women I say, "Thank you, for being my Good Samaritans."
