Robert Browning, the English poet, had a little girl, Pippa, sing happily as she tripped along, “The day’s at the morn…the hillside is dew-pearled…” and “all’s right with the world.”  Except for the fact that it was late afternoon, it was that kind of day for us.

With high expectations for a good evening, we were driving down the highway. It was time for dinner, and our favorite restaurant was just a few minutes away. We knew we would have a pleasant experience.

Suddenly, I heard an unpleasant sound and I felt the car pull to the right. It didn’t take long to know that there was a serious problem, a flat tire. Immediately, I pulled over to the side of the road. As I opened the car door to get out, I saw a car that had pulled over behind me, and the driver of that car and I met behind my car. With a big smile on his face and his hand extended in a friendly way, that perfect stranger said, “Got a flat tire ain’t ye? Don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it fer ye.”

When I opened the trunk of the car, the stranger gently pushed me aside and said, “Let me do it. I’ll get it. I know where it is.” And he did.

He worked fast, and in a few minutes, the flat tire was replaced. After thanking the stranger, I gave him a gift to express my appreciation for his service, and with a satisfied look on his face, he got in his car and rapidly drove away. With gratitude in our hearts for the help of a perfect stranger, we drove down the road and were soon at the restaurant enjoying a delightful meal.

Remembering that event, I recall some words that are almost two thousand years old, “Do not forget to do good and share with others.”  Just a little act of kindness may make a big difference in someone’s life.