I'm going to tell you a story about what great parents you were and how well you raised us.

Heidi worked another Arizona State University football game this past Sunday. She sat outside all afternoon in the heat and the sun. When she was all done, she got on her bike and pedaled to her car on the other side of campus. When she got there, she saw an early model Celica--old like her station wagon—which had seen better days.

The three people waiting there had worked the football game as she had. One was older, fiftyish, about Dad's age. The others were his son and daughter in-law. They were, of course, tired after a long, hot day's work. To add to that, they discovered that their battery had been stolen out of the car. They lived in Avondale, which is a good 25-35 miles away.

Heidi went to see if she could help them or get them some help. They had already tried to call campus police and motorist assistance, but those services were busy with football traffic. The older man had already called his wife to let her know that it may be a long while before they could get home.

Heidi had the impression that they didn't have anyone else they could call and were in a really tough bind. It looked like there was nothing she could do though, so she got in her car and started home. On the way, she was thinking over how terrible that these folks were essentially stranded. So, she went into Pep Boys (an auto supply store). After finally getting an employee's help, she asked how much a battery for a Toyota Celica cost.

The clerk asked, "What year?" Heidi replied," Does it matter?" To which he responded that the year of the car mattered because the battery needs to fit the mounting. So, she guessed 1980, thinking if it's within a year or two, the battery won't be that different. So, she bought the battery (about $40). Because she was buying a battery without one to trade in there was an additional environmental fee of $10.

She took it to the folks who were, of course, still there. She told them that she just couldn't go home knowing that they had no way home. These people were stunned. Any one would be. The older gentleman told her that he had prayed for help. I guess Heidi was it. Essentially, what Heidi earned that whole day was spent on the battery. When she told me about what she did, I asked, "Was it worth the day's work?" You know what she said, don't you? "Oh, yes."

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