Today, I want to share a story about your great-grandparents. It’s about community and kindness in a bygone time (though for me, it wasn’t really that long ago.)
A year before I was born, your great-grandparents decided to take a trip to Gatlinburg. The interstates were still under construction so they took a two-lane road up through North Georgia mountains, through Jasper. When they reached the small town of Talking Rock Bridge, their car died on them. The engine wouldn’t turn over. They were stuck.
A young couple from Jasper was out riding around and came across them. When Great-Grandpa told them about the car, they volunteered to take them back to Jasper to call a wrecker. Seeing as there was nothing else they could do, your great-grandparents accepted their generous offer and drove back with them. Once they reached their home, Great-Grandpa called the wrecker service and they waited while the car was retrieved.
It was almost dark by then, and with no hotels in town, your great-grandparents weren’t sure what to do. That was until the couple offered them a room for the night. I can just see your great-grandma’s expression–something like ‘Do you think we’re crazy or something? Of course, we’re not staying here.’ But the couple wanted to help. So they stripped the sheets and put fresh linen on the bed, then made up a place on the couch for themselves. After supper, they talked for a while and then retreated to their rooms.
The next morning, the man treated your great-grandpa to breakfast at the local diner while they waited for the car to be repaired. After they finished, they went to the garage where the car was being fixed. The mechanic greeted them at the door with good news–the car was fixed and ready to go. By this time, your great-grandpa was worried. Would they have enough money for the repair? Or would they have to go home and return with more money?
When the mechanic gave Great-Grandpa the final bill, he was floored. The tow and repair only cost $9.25–$9 for the tow and $0.25 for the repair. Once he’d paid, he went back to the house and retrieved your great-grandma, then continued their trip.
That young couple’s kindness as well as that of the mechanic still touches your great-grandparents today because your grandpa shared it with me today, some 62 years later. That’s what a true community looks like. That’s what kindness is.
