Dear Editor:

After a long week of work and non-stop activities with four children, it was Saturday morning and we were off to yet another football game . . . our third that week! Weary, and running 45 minutes late with 45 minutes to drive, first stop - the station.

As I began cleaning out a week's worth of trash from my Expedition, my husband pumped the gas. With neither one of us in the mood to socialize with one another, much less anyone else, a guy in a red shirt starting washing our windshield. He turned to me, "You mind?" "Uhhh . . . no, I don't mind," I said. Kind of weird, I was thinking. As I looked up and saw his face, Deryl Hoyt Jr., it was a familiar one to me but my husband, Alex, only knew him in passing.

As Deryl continued cleaning all of our windows, and strangely enough, my husband and I both felt some overwhelming need to talk with him. There was a sudden connection that neither one of us could later explain.

We began sharing about our past week's experiences and so on. I said strange earlier because Alex is the most private, untrusting person I have ever met, and he lets very few in. But not in this situation; he suddenly seemed comfortable, and actually had his guard down while visiting with this man, as if he talked to him everyday! I was taken aback, to say the least!

In all of five minutes, Deryl was able to change my husband's lifetime belief (because of upbringing, as well as personal experiences) that most Christians are hypocritical, judgmental fakes! Alex got to see a true servant of God, up close and personal, and we both felt his sincerity. This man never mentioned Jesus; he didn't have to. His actions and humility spoke for themselves, and we both knew who was behind this simple act of kindness.

As we said our good-byes and drove away, my nine- and three-year-old peered out the sparkling clean back glass. "Mom!," my nine-year-old said, "that guy is washing everybody's windows!" Wow . . . I felt blessed for my husband and children to witness someone doing something from the heart, not wanting praise or asking for anything in return . . . it was just beautiful!

If someone, in a moment of humility, can make an impact in my husband's heart and mind, they can make a difference with anyone! As we left San Saba City limits, I never said a word. I just smiled as I peered out the glass into the hazy blue morning sky . . . "Thanks, Lord," I whispered within myself, "that was pretty sneaky!!"

J. Saiz