An Officer and A Gentleman.....and A Realtor

It's Veterans Day weekend.  I am out this Friday morning placing signage on a property.  A lovely older gentleman with a soft spoken manner, a visible hearing aid, and perhaps the deepest eyes I've ever seen walks up from a nearby home.  He asks about my listing.  He asks if I am a "realtOR," as he says, "not just a realtor."   I assure him that I am indeed a "realtOR." He says he is a veteran.  He served in Viet Nam.  I thank him for his service and give him my card.  He says he may one day soon be in need of real estate assistance.  I tell him I would be very pleased and honored to help him.

He shares that his mother (at least I think he said mother, but in hindsight, perhaps he said wife) suffers from Alzheimers.  He says she went out of their home during the night, turned on their car and apparently left it on all night.  He has been trying without success to reach someone to help.  He comments that he has cables.  I ask if he would like to try to jump his car off from mine.  (Note that I remembered a lesson  learned from a car trouble experience of my own when in my mid twenties I caused quite a stir by asking if any of a group of young guys could jump me.  Clear communication can be a wonderful thing, can it not?)

The charming, distinguished veteran asks if I'm sure I have time and don't mind helping.  I assure him I have time to help.  He hooks up the cables and a few minutes later we hear the welcome sound of his engine turning over.

He shakes my hand and thanks me profusely.  Really....he thanks me?  He says, "God sent you my way this morning, Young Lady."  That may have been the best part...being called "young lady" after my recent birthday, but I digress.  I think maybe God did send me, but not in the way this gentleman meant.  Thank you, Lord, for giving me a Veteran's Day opportunity to interact with one who proudly served this nation, and to maybe in a very small way lend him a grateful hand.