Tanya Ashworth/AZ

The Australian Gentleman

Whoever said that driving a car is solely a means for transportation? I find it a great way of letting out my frustrations.

I was frustrated over a situation at work. The situation required that I take on the role of a hard-nosed, tough-guy type of personality. That wasn’t me. I didn’t want to. I only want to be seen as a lady, a lady with dignity and quiet calmness.

While driving the car I let out a torrent of emotions and mixed it in with prayer.

“I am upset! I don’t like what is being forced onto me. This isn’t me! I just want to be seen as someone that is dignified, someone with values and standards. I want to be perceived as a “lady!”

At that exact moment, while driving the car, the engine stopped running. I was able to glide the car into a side street and bring it to a stop. I hadn’t even had the time to take my next breathe when I saw a gentleman standing at my car window. I let the window down and he said to me, in a thick Australian accent, “Looks like you might need some help?”

Dazed, I replied, “Yeah, yeah, the engine just quit.”

“Well, pop the hood and I’ll take a look,” he said in that swoomy accent.

He looked at the engine and came back to the window. He asked, “Do you have a Kleenex?” But before I could even give a reply he added, “But of course you do, you are a lady.”

He put the hood down. He told me there was nothing wrong with the car and that I could start it up again. As he left he said, “Good day. And always remember that you are a lady.”

I thought to myself, “Why on earth would a total stranger say something like that? Who uses the term “lady” anymore, any way?” This all seemed so strange.

I put the window back up and looked in the rear view mirror to see him but he was gone. How could he and his big silver truck be gone when not even three seconds had passed? But he was gone. He was not there. And there was nothing wrong with my car. It ran perfectly.

What a strange situation. A unique gentleman giving me the exact words I was wanting to hear at just the exact time I needed to hear them. I can only thank God for the unique and unusual ways in which He chooses to talk with us.