After a man broke down in tears at a gas pump, one woman and a crowd came together to help a family in need at a gas station in Minnesota.
According to Faith Tap, Nicole Heintz experienced a combination of faith and destiny after stopping at a gas station on a chilly morning in Minnesota for gas. So moved by what transpired, Nicole took to a Facebook page called Love What Matters to share her story of human kindness with the world.
“So I was just on my way to work and I had to stop for gas so I allowed myself some extra time to get to work. When I pulled up to the pump, I shut my car off and saw this middle-aged man crying looking at the gas pump. I began to wonder what happened with this man and as I got out of my car and looked at him my heart felt like it stopped.”
Something deep inside of Nicole snapped when she saw the man in tears. She explained it was just 10 degrees outside at the time.
“This man was wearing flip flops with socks covered in holes. I look at his car and see his wife in the front seat covering her face in her hands and the 2 teenage girls both cuddling under a blanket in the back seat.”
Not giving it a second thought, Nicole approached the middle-aged man and asked him what was wrong. Ashamed and defeated, the man broke down as he explained to the woman how he was unable to provide for his family. Without hesitation, Nicole placed her card in the machine and told the man to fill up his tank.
She continued giving more to this family in need.
“In that same moment his wife got out of her car, she asked her husband what was going on and he told her I just payed for their gas she started to cry and came around the corner to shake my hand when I saw her pants dirty and torn. I asked her to come to my car.”
Nicole offered both the wife and the teenage girls some of the extra clothing from her trunk. By this time, Nicole and the family in need attracted a small crowd. However, the crowd was equally motivated to help this family.
An older man presented the family with a gift card. A second middle-aged man gave the father his jacket.
Nicole never expected something like this to happen.
She revealed in the Facebook post that she never imagined something like this could occur at a gas station – especially among strangers.
“But it gives me hope. That the love of God can be so contagious. That we are not alone in being the change we want to see in the world. That God’s love is greater than anything and we get to be a part of that love changing lives. And HE always provides!”
Nicole knew this family needed her help – so did the other strangers at the gas station. Through the kindness of strangers, this family acquired a full tank of gas, some warm clothing, and a gift card.
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