Sometimes it is the little things that matter in life. Particularly here on the reservation. Kindness is important.

I travel with a whole travel kit including tow ropes, tools, jumper cables, jack, gas and water. You never know what you might run into. AAA can take a LONG time to get to you. A LONG time. Most often it is other drivers who will come to the rescue. I had a flat tire and 4 cars, and an officer stopped to offer aid.

One time I was heading home from Badlands National Park and saw a van on the side of the road. It was over 100 degrees. I stopped offering help. He had a friend on the way, so I was not needed. But they happily took me up on an offer of water.

Another time one of my workers slid off the road. People stopped to pull him out.

Kindness goes a long way. Once a guy was at the center asking me for a ride. I said I do not do rides. He proceeded to cuss me out. A little while later his nephew came to pick him up. On the way to the center his nephew hit a deer. The fender was bent into the front tire rubbing it roughly. Now we could have ignored him but instead we offered help. One of my staff pried the fender off and got him on the road.

This past weekend I was at Langford Lutheran Parish, Falnes Church. On my way into the worship my warning light came on indicating a low tire. I pulled into the church lot and when I got out, I heard the air hissing. Within minutes I had a flat tire. (See Picture) A member of the church came out. After introductions I mentioned my tire. Without missing a beat she said oh we will take care of that. And the church stepped up. Before I could get out of the worship, I was told a jack and air wrench was on the way.

Before I could get my jack out a gentleman pulled up in his truck with a floor jack, and an air gun. Soon enough another gentleman pulled out a compressor and a plug kit. After lowering my spare tire, we had the tire replaced and filled with air. I was safely on my way.

This simple act of Kindness made my day. When I pulled in, I expected to spend time in the lot getting dirty and sweaty changing my tire on my own. With the kindness of people, I just met I was on my way quickly and only a little dirty.

Be kind to one another. You never know what the other person is going through.

God Loves you and so do I.