JSN Update – A Random Act of Kindness

Often in my Jackson Star News Updates, we get a mixed bag of good news and bad news, as well as some just plain random stuff.  Being a displaced West Virginian, I really enjoy providing these updates as a way for me and others to stay in touch with the homeland. Having said that, I can honestly say that this update will certainly go down as one of my favorites.

Sara Beth Jett Montgomery, class of ‘98, alerted me to a letter to the editor that appeared last week in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, which appears below. Be sure to read the letter in its entirety.

I have often heard of “angels among us,” but never personally encountered one until recently. Traveling to St. Albans, to attend the memorial service of a friend, I encountered my angel. Although she looked like an “ordinary” person, she was anything but.

I had traveled approximately 50 miles when I began having car problems. Before I knew it, my car had completely lost all power. There I was on the side of I-77, just north of Charleston, not knowing what to do. I decided to walk to the nearest exit. I started walking when a van pulled in.

A lady got out to see if she could be of help. Come to find out, she lives in Ravenswood and was on her way to work in Charleston but took the time to stop to see if she could help. She offered to take me onto St. Albans, but by this time I just wanted to get the car running enough to get back home. She used her OnStar, located a car parts store and took me to get a battery. Neither of us had installed a battery before, but she had confidence she could do it. So, battery and socket set in hand, (neither of us had tools) we left the car parts store ready to tackle the task. Things didn’t go quite as well as we expected, but with the help of two kind gentlemen and a state police officer, two hours later, I was finally ready to attempt returning to Parkersburg.

Nothing doing! Angel Liz, (that is the way I have entered her number in my cell phone) was not going to let me travel alone. She insisted on following me all the way to the Mineral Wells exit. I have never seen anyone go to the great lengths this dear lady went to help someone else in need. She gave new meaning to the saying, “going above and beyond.” On top of that, she would not take anything for her time and trouble, not even gas money.

God did not cause my car to breakdown, but He knew it was going to happen and orchestrated everything and everyone who was involved in His intricate plan. I appreciate her sacrificial acts of kindness and give all the glory to God.

Barbara Beatty
Elizabeth, W.Va.

The story in itself is a great one and should be a lesson for all of us. What makes it all the better is that most of us actually know Angel Liz. She is none other than Liz Rardin Dauch, RHS class of ‘95. Now, Liz will say her actions were no big deal. But in reality, her actions go far above and beyond what many people would do and she should be commended for her kindness and selflessness.

Thank you to Sara Beth for alerting me to the letter.

And thank you to Liz for giving us all such a nice model to follow.