Value Added

Ruth Ellen went above and beyond the call of duty.  Way above.  Way beyond.

Some of you are aware that Rick and I bought electric bicycles recently.  The woman who guided us through the process was Ruth Ellen.  We both thanked her vigorously and sincerely for her help and direction at the time.

Upon getting the bikes home, Rick decided that he wanted a few alterations made on his.  One of them involved a different seat and he knew exactly which one he wanted, having that very seat on another bike he already had.  He took it back, a 200-mile trip, as we live quite a distance from the bike shop.

The replacement seat was ordered along with other parts necessary for the other changes to be made.  A date was set for pick-up, and guaranteed.  The date was October 2.

On about the 29th of September Rick realized he needed to be in the same city on October 1, the day before the appointed time.  He called the shop to see if his bike could be ready a day early.

“I think we can do that,” he was told.  “Everything but the seat is in and that’s due in by UPS that morning.  Come by at around 11 and it should be ready.”

Only it wasn’t.  UPS hadn’t been by yet.  “Why don’t you go have lunch or something and come back in a bit?” it was suggested.  “The truck should be here any minute.”

Only it wasn’t.  At 12:30 there still was no sign of the truck.  That’s when Ruth Ellen stepped up to the plate.

“I’ll call the driver,” she said.  “I have his number.”  And that’s what she did.

“Found him,” she announced a moment later.  “He won’t be here for awhile yet.  I’ll just go pick up the part myself.”  And she was off.

“Wow!” I said to Rick when he told me the story later.  “Talk about value added.  That’s amazing!”  We both envisioned Ruth Ellen chasing the truck down and, with the driver, rummaging through the packages until they found the right one.  They did find it and she brought it back to the shop where it was quickly placed on the bike and Rick headed home.

Ruth Ellen saved Rick a not insignificant drive back the next day, for which he was and is very grateful.  And we wish for Ruth Ellen the blessings promised in Proverbs 11:25 – we think it applies to her: “A generous man (or woman) will prosper; he (or she) who refreshes others will himself (or herself) be refreshed” (additions mine).  She was the source of a great refreshing to Rick and me, performing an extremely kind act she didn’t have to.  We wish her a very grand refreshing, and we both determine anew to be a source of refreshing to others as often  as possible.

How about you?