April 26, 2010 by Stacy McDonald
Help! I’m Stranded!
The following video reminded me of an incident I experienced while awaiting the birth of my son, Caleb. I was heading to the doctor’s office with “frequent contractions,” and found myself on an on-ramp, stuck in heavy traffic (this was before our family had cell phones). By the time I made it to the Interstate I realized I was getting ready to run out of gas. (Did I mention my husband was out of town, and that he “usually” ensured that I had a full tank of gas?)
I knew there wasn’t a gas station anywhere near my current location, so I braced myself for the inevitable. Soon it happened…I started to coast to a full stop on the side of I10 in Sugar Land, Texas.
I could feel the whoosh of every car that passed me by. It was terrifying. “Surely,” I thought, “someone will stop and help me…it’s rush hour! It’s not like I’m on a deserted road!”
Nobody stopped.
I decided to step outside my van and stand sideways. :-) Surely, someone would stop for a woman who was nine months pregnant, and stranded on the side of the road!
Not only that, I knew there had to be people I “knew” passing by on this freeway! I began to pray.
Then, almost miraculously, I saw a police car coming. Then…whoosh! There he went.
I began to envision myself giving birth to my child alone on the side of the busy Interstate. I got back in my van and cried.
Suddenly, through my rear view mirror, I saw a truck pulling over to the side of the road. What was this? A beat up truck…with an open trailer on the back…filled with lawn mowers. A group of men (who didn’t speak a lick of English) jumped out of the back of the pick up.
I felt myself panic. What do I do? I was both amazed and humbled by what I saw next. These men who didn’t know me…who didn’t even speak my language…who were often looked down upon by Americans…began to siphon gas out of their lawn mowers!!!
As these generous men, without a word, filled my gas tank, I sat there with tears streaming down my face. “Gracias…gracias, Amigo!!!” Was all I could say. Practically all the Spanish I knew…even having grown up in Houston, Texas.
I gave birth to Caleb Beauchamp McDonald the very next morning.
Please remember the following video, as well as Luke 10:33, and my favorite “birth story,” the next time you see someone in need!
“But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.” (Luke 10:33)
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17 Responses to “Help! I’m Stranded!”
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One of our favorite birth stories. Stacy is not sharing how I had promised not to travel – but did. I really let her down that day. But God was very gracious to us both – and I think she actually forgave me. ;-)
The attached video is very troubling. Let us look for opportunities to help the hurting. I am thankful that happened for Stacy.
Wow, that is so sad!
Thank you for showing this video – what a wake up cal!
I heard about this video… and I can't bear to watch it. I hope you'll forgive me?
And I love that story of yours! We have a similar (although much less interesting and dramatic) tale in our family lore as well. It was a tangible lesson to all of us that outward appearances count for absolutely nothing. I am so thankful to those men for helping you Stacey!
Wow, I cannot imagine just walking by and doing nothing. I wonder if it has to do with a coldness in our general public that it is someone else's problem, not ours…..i just read about the good samaritan this morning, this is a perfect follow up!
My husband observed that many of the lawn maintenance workers who come to the U.S. from central America are often from the country. We live in a small town in a pretty rural area, and I could not imagine scenes like this happening where someone was bleeding to death or hit by a car and no one stopped to help them. I wonder if maybe this "every man for himself" attitude is more common in large city settings?
That poor man! I guess we know where the expression, "No good deed goes unpunished" came from, huh?
Heartbreakingly disturbing…..
It is so sad how people are afraid to do something. I would think that someone would have at least called 911. You hear stories of people posing an older women on the side of the road, and then someone stops to help them and out jumps a couple of men who then rob the helping person. The latest story circulating is to not stop if you see an infant car seat at the curb. It is a set-up to get women to stop, who then are robbed, raped etc. I am not defending the passerbys, it is just so sad that society has come to this. That there are people preying on those that would be moved with compassion and willing to help others. With almost everyone having cell phones these days, there is no excuse for not dialing 911.
There is no excuse not to call the police and tell them someone needs help, give them the location and situation. They are trained to take care of the situation, whether it be a serious emergency or a "scam" that could turn dangerous.
What a precious story about how you were helped while in labor! It brought tears to my eyes. And the video brought tears for a very different reason. Very sad.
Although, trying to assume the best in charity, isn't it possible that some of those passers-by did, in fact, call 911?
I cannot believe that no one stopped for you!!! That's absolutely tragic and really captures the selfish attitudes that are so prevalent in society today. The men who helped you were so kind – it's so wonderful that the Lord brings such people into our lives, and that He gives His people the ability to serve others through acts of kindness.
Blessings,
Luci
http://atranquilheart.blogspot.com
What an 'exciting' birth story Stacy! Thank the Lord that you were helped by those kind gentlemen on the roadside.
Thank you for sharing this deeply disturbing video to highlight this issue.
God Bless
Oh dear! I haven't seen the vid yet, but it sounds like it won't be as light as Stacy's story was in the end. Thank God for those men, Stacy, and that they didn't need to deliver the baby!
I wonder if some of the people who passed him thought he was sleeping on the street…homeless or drunk, maybe? Of course there would be no excuse to not help a person who was obviously hurt, but maybe they are so used to seeing people on the street that it didn't even occur to them that the person needed help. I am from a small city in the north (cold!), & although I know there are homeless people here, they are not prevalent…they tend to stay out of sight. When I visited Seattle, I was so struck by the number of homeless on the streets there, & some of them were asleep on the sidewalks. It was a crazy mix of wealthy shoppers, average people, & the very poor & homeless. Most people just walked by without any indication that they noticed the needier ones…
wow! how humbling.
I can't believe that this actuallly happened. How cruel can this be and for phycologists to give it a term… what will people excuse their behaviour with next.
Christ Almighty.
He even helped a woman, chased her attackers after being wounded!!! A true good man died, ignored by others. I know about the bystander affect, but ALL the people shown here were clearly NOT being helped. And the woman whose neighbors ignored her screams?? It's too tragic for words.