Caring- Too Much to Ask ?

Lately I have been really noticing how rude and uncaring our world has become. Whether it is being "honked" at in the drop off line at my sons school, because I had to take a whole 4 seconds to shut my van door due to the fact my kindergartner wasn't able to properly shut it. Or when watching the cars that race down our residential street with no regard to the "slow children at play" and the posted 25 MPH signs. It just seems that everyone is in hurry and not worried in the least bit about anyone else in the world around them.

Never has this fact been more clear to me than a few weeks ago. My friend Kathy and I, along with our 6 children (between the two of us) were headed home from a day at the park. While driving home I got a flat tire on my van. So I pulled into a parking lot to check out the situation.

As I got out of my van and saw the pancake that was once my tire I thought to myself "well at least I am not out on some rural road with no help in sight". On the contrary- we were in the Lincoln Financial building parking lot in middle of downtown Fort Wayne. "Help" surrounded us ... building security, educated men in business suits on there lunch break, and just the regular hustle and bustle of a downtown area.

Now, let me make one thing clear- by no means are Kathy and I "girly girls" afraid to break a nail. We tried our best to change my tire ourselves but we had some issues with my spare and needed a little help.

Which shouldn't have been a big deal- in a world where people actually cared about helping one another.For some reason you would think that such a world would exist on the property of a company that is named after Abraham Lincoln but , no not even there can you find an once of sympathy.

We went into the building to talk to security. Thinking maybe they could help us in some way. They told us it was there policy "not to help" and that maybe the "guys" down the street at "Mikes car wash" could help.. Is that crazy?? They would rather have Two moms and six children all under the age of 6 yrs. old laying under a mini-van trying to change a tire in middle of there parking lot.

I know what you are thinking ... if security wouldn't help surely one of the dozen men that were out on there lunch break would at least ask if we needed help, right?! Not one person even stopped.

Even after my youngest son got locked in the van by a very bored and exhausted older brother and the Fort Wayne police showed up-not one person stopped and said a word to us. To make matters worse The Lincoln Financial Security patrolled the parking lot in a John Deere "Gator" type vehicle watching everything unfold from a distance.

Thank Goodness for the Fort Wayne police who showed up to unlock my van and rescue my son and the tow truck driver who arrived to change my tire. Without them who knows what would have happened.

I guess, all we have left is the PAID professional who receives a check to help a citizen or to change a tire- because obviously to think someone would stop to help out another out of the kindness in ones own heart is to much to expect in todays world.

One good thing that did come out of this whole experience. It was a great lesson to our six young boys, Hopefully one day our children will grow up and remember this experience and step forward and be "real men" and not hesitate to lend a helping hand.