No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. How true that is! Sometimes we find kindness in the unlikeliest of places; and when we do, we are reinforced about the love the Lord has for us. There may be times when we are at the lowest point of our lives or are faced with challenges that seem insurmountable. But, God seldom gives us problems more than we can handle and if he does, he makes sure to send help. This help can come in the form of a loved one or in the way of a perfect stranger. Irrespective of the form it takes, we can always feel the love of God when help does come our way.
Psalm 31:21 “Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.”
They say angels sometimes come dressed as people. They could come in the form of your neighbors or as the clerks at your favored department store. They could also be the repairmen at the local utilities repair company.
The Hulscher family had a lot to celebrate and many reasons to be thankful for. They had a loving family where the couple was still as much in love with each other as the day they got married, they had a wonderful 2-year old son and they had just had a gorgeous newborn baby boy.
Psalm 127:3 “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” On February 22nd 2017, Maria Hulscher gave birth to a beautiful baby boy in their hometown of Willmar, Minnesota. It was a time of extreme joy for the Hulscher clan and everyone was ecstatic. The lucky parents had planned a big homecoming for their newborn son – Adler.
On February 23rd 2017, Maria’s husband, Jesse Hulscher visited his home to get things ready for the baby’s homecoming. The weather in Minnesota was turning, with a snowstorm being a possibility. His home being a cold mess, Jesse decided to turn on the furnace. But when it didn’t start despite being turned off and turned on multiple times, Jesse realized the cold truth – the furnace was broken!
While on any other day this might not have been a pressing problem, it was a matter of life or death now. With a 2-year old already present and baby Adler on the way, the Hulscher house which was inhabitable, had to be made ready for the children. Jesse and Maria had to do something quickly before the baby was brought home from the hospital.
A desperate plea for help
It was quite obvious that the furnace needed immediate fixing. Newborns are extremely sensitive to sudden changes in temperatures and bringing Adler to a home that was freezing was unimaginable.
Jesse got moving immediately. The first thing he did was call Magnuson Sheet Metal, who are the local air-conditioning repair contractors in Willmar, Minnesota. After several rings, the phone was answered by Craig, the manager of Magnuson Sheet Metal. Jesse updated him about his situation and begged Craig to send someone over to his house immediately. Concerned about the safety of the children, Craig dispatched a repairman that very second.
The repairman was soon at Jesse and Maria Hulscher’s home and he had fixed their furnace within the hour. The Hulscher’s were overjoyed. They felt the company repairman and the manager of the Magnuson Sheet Metal were angels in disguise.
But their happiness was short-lived. The couple, who had spent most of their savings on buying baby products for Adler and his brother, did not have much change left to spare. They knew that fixing a broken furnace was a complicated and expensive job; and they also knew that they may not be able to afford paying the repairman for his services.
When the repairman’s work was done, Jesse approached him with apprehension. He didn’t know what to say. Instead of handing over the bill, the repairman assured him about the safety of the furnace and prepared to leave. When asked about the payment, the repairman told the couple that the company would send the invoice via mail over the next couple of days. Jesse and Maria heaved a sigh of relief. They would have a few days to get the money together.
A shock to remember
A few days later Jesse found a letter in his mailbox that was addressed to him. The sender was none other than Magnuson Sheet Metal, the company that had fixed the furnace. The invoice had finally arrived. Wanting to know what he owed the repairman, Jesse tore open the letter. What he read completely shocked him!
The invoice looked like a typical invoice, but what was written in the place of the cost was unbelievable. Instead of a quotation for the service provided, the company had written a message, one that brought tears to Jesse and Maria’s eyes. The invoice said, “No charge…Take care of the new baby.”
Kindness exists
When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness…and this is exactly how Jesse and Maria Hulscher feel. The couple believes that the help they received during such a dark day of their lives was divine intervention.
When someone helps us during the bleakest times of our life, we are sure to remember these acts forever. While it may seem to some that the act of providing a free repair service was normal, it must be realized that the smallest and simplest acts of kindness can make all the difference in the world for someone who is desperate for help.
Jesse and Maria Hulscher are stunned at the love and concern they were shown by complete strangers. The couple vows to tell their sons about this miraculous incident one day and they hope to raise them as loving young men who will repay the world the kindness they received themselves on a cold and stormy night.
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