Yesterday, on our way home, our car broke down two hours out on a busy highway, with three kids and a hungry newborn. It was an overwhelming moment, and I didn’t want to unbuckle the baby because I was afraid of the danger from passing cars—he was safest in his car seat.
We called AAA, and an Alabama State Trooper arrived to help. I expected him to just manage traffic, but he went far beyond that.
The trooper kindly loaded all of us into his vehicle and drove us safely off the highway to a nearby rest stop. He stayed by our car while we waited for the tow truck. Even more, he checked the bathroom for any “boogiemans” so that my daughter Madeline could feel safe using it. He entertained the kids by pretending to shoot helicopters in the sky, giving me time to make phone calls.
When our baby, Major, started fussing, the trooper didn’t hesitate to pick him up, feed him, and burp him like a seasoned pro. Even a little accident didn’t rattle him—he just laughed and kept caring for Major.
He helped carry all our bags from the car to his truck and drove us to the nearest hotel. Since it was late, and nothing was open, plus we couldn’t rent a car until the morning, his help was invaluable. He carried our bags into the hotel room, shared directions to the rental car offices, gave our girls a warm hug, and told us to call him if we needed anything.
That, to me, is genuine kindness.