A Beautiful Story I'd Like to Share with Everyone Here........

[asphaltgambler]

Recently I received a promotion to our Quality Control Division.....................which is a story unto itself. As some of you may already know, I work for a large county government entity.

My new position was created where there was none prior. At the ripe old age of 60; it is my dream job.......short of working for myself.........period. In addition I received twice the % of raise that this pay grade normally generates when moving up. My duties are split between admin and field / hands-on. Perfect for me. God has truly blessed me and my family

Since everything I need in this new opportunity is supplied for me including a vehicle - I no longer have need for my work tools and toolbox. So I flatbed that home to my garage last month. In that garage I already have a complete duplicate box, tools and a variety of other equipment that I use in my restoration side business.

So....... I'm in my garage looking at my Snap-On work toolbox and tools wondering where I'm going to put it and just then out of the blue, I receive a text.............................................. ....

"Hey man! - I just got off of the Snap-On truck - I need everything but it's just soooo expensive"

The text is from my wife's nephew - her younger brother's son. He is a young man of few words and very infrequently does he call or text even though I encourage him to.

You see...... he has had a pretty rough time in life since birth. The parents divorced early on. Then sexually abused by his mom's boyfriend when he was little, treated with disdain by his stepmother and chaotic family atmosphere between the two separate step parents and step children. He somehow survived this, grew up to be a fairly normal teenager to then graduate high school. But after graduating he could not find a decent job. Largely because he lives in a small town in south / central Virginia where there is little opportunity but also that was when the great recession was in full swing.

After some soul searching........... he decides to join the military, serve his country, get out of that 1-horse town and find himself.

Immediately after basic training he sent to the middle east where we involved full-swing. That's where his life changed............possibly for the worse.........as young men and women often see and experience horrible things on the front lines in war times to preserve our freedom. He survived several incidents which could have taken his life, including shrapnel in his lower back. He wanted to make a career with the Army but his injuries physically precluded any further opportunities. He was honorably discharged.

After 4 years serving his Country, he came back here physically and mentally .....broken with virtually no skills that would translate to civilian life here.

He is now back in that 1-horse town, older....but facing the same dilemma almost 6 years earlier. He bounces from one low skilled job to another for some time. He manages to have a son, then get married, then divorced, then another son and married again.

Then something happens. A guy who owns 3 small tire and auto repairs shops in his area takes him under his wing, pays him above scale hourly wage and teaches him basic technical skills.

A year later, he's still there - loves it and they love him. He is flourishing in this environment.......but there's one problem...............he has no tools nor can he really afford to buy any with wife, 2 kids and another on the way............

That's when God put it on my heart to give him my toolbox full of tools!

Last weekend my brother in-law comes up ( this young man's dad) we work together cleaning, organizing and polishing everything. We still we not finished and spent most of July 4th working on this.

July 5th; Friday we go the local U-haul and pick up the previously reserved truck and trailer and load the toolbox and other related items to hit the road early Saturday morning.

July 6th at 6:03 am - we're loaded up and headed south for @3+ hour ride to where he works - he has no idea...........only me, my wife, his dad and the young man's wife are in on it.

The pictures tell the story..............









The young man in the story is wearing the red / black work shirt

[herr_oberst]

Great story!

[Jims5543]

Awesome story. That guy had a rough life. Kudos to you for making it a bit better.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[oldE]

Ya done good.

Best
Les

[peppy]

I love that story.

[Evans, Marv]

No better good than providing a gift/resource to help a man make a living and provide for his family. Good for you !!!

[carambola]

Just an incredible move, you rock.




PS: lose the white socks

[LWJ]

You made my day as well. Maybe my week!!!

Nicely done.

[DonDavis]

That’s a beautiful thing. Good on you.

[wdfifteen]

Awesome story. You’re a good man, hope it continues to work out for the young man.

[Sooner or later]

Well done!

[Chocaholic]

Inspirational story. Seems he’s on a good path...finally.

[Jim Richards]

What a great story! Well done, asphaltgambler!

[Baz]

Made my day......damn....dust in here or something......

[Seahawk]

Teach a man to fish...

What a fine gesture, what a fine person you are...lose the white socks

[masraum]

Fantastic story!

It's great when the universe conspires for things to work out.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by oldE

Ya done good.

Best
Les

In logger parlance, that's about as high as praise gets...so I'll add my dittos!

Is there a 10mm socket in there?

[Laneco]

I cannot even convey how much I LOVE THIS!

You are helping him change everything in his life with this gift. Even better because they were the tools you used in your career.

You paid it forward.

angela

[Por_sha911]

All things work together for the good of those who...

You and your nephew had several "coincidences" working at the same time to come to the planned blessing. I love it when a plan comes together.

[craigster59]

As a guy who was given a life changing break early in my career I salute you.

We all have the ability to be great, but at times you just need a “boost”. Thanks for stepping up and giving him that boost, I’m sure he will do great things with it!