Monday, April 2, 2018

Gas Thieves

     Since Daddy had started a woodworking shop he had bought several fuel tanks and set them up under our pine trees behind the house. He had allowed us children to paint them a shiny silver and once they were dry he wrote GAS in big black letters on one of them in order to not confuse it with the one holding diesel fuel right next to it.

     It took quite a lot more diesel than gas to run the machinery in the shop but somehow the gas tank got empty before the diesel. Daddy asked all of us if we had opened the valves or if we have any idea why the tank was empty already. We were all clueless about what could be happening to the gas.

     Daddy kept having to fill the gas tank once a month, and then winter came and one morning we woke up to fresh tracks in the snow in front of the gas tank. Daddy wasn't very happy about the idea that someone was stealing gas and decided he is going to try to watch the tank and catch the thieves in the act.

    Sure enough several nights later as he peeped out the kitchen window he saw our neighbors two teen-aged boys filling their gas cans. He hurried down to the basement and out through the shop stopping in the engine room long enough to pick up our gas can.

     He walked up to them and said "Here's some more gas you can have." They jumped and turned around to see who was there. Daddy repeated. "Here is another can of gas for you," and held it out to them. They stammered around a bit and refused to accept it.

     They offered to pay for the gas in their cans but Daddy refused to take any of their money and told them the next time they really need gas to come to the house and he will be glad to give them what ever they need.

     He told them goodnight and came back into the house. They stood there for awhile and then walked home with their gas. But from that night on we never had any problems with gas disappearing and they never came to accept Daddy's offer of free gas either.

25 comments:

  1. What a wonderful approach to the gas problem. Most folks wouldn't do this. This made me smile.

    Have a fabulous day. ♥

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  2. I agree with the above poster 100% :)

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  3. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving your sweet comment:). We can all learn from this post. I am sure You Dsd set a good example for those young thieves. It could have made a difference in their future. Have a blessed day, hugs.

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  4. WOW! What an approach to take and one that probably done them worse than anything else. I love this! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  5. Wow! There are so many lessons in his choice to handle it that way.

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  6. What an awesome story. Most people wouldn't handle that in such a calm manner but obviously his way was very effective

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  7. That is a great story. Thanks for sharing

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  8. First, thanks for stopping by my blog! I look forward to reading your blog too.
    Now, what a fantastic way to approach a problem. We could use more of that kind of problem solving in this world!

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  9. Thank you for commenting on my blog. I will follow yours.

    I liked your story of your dad. It gives me a lot to think about, for sure.

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  10. Your dad handled that beautifully and taught so many young people -- the gas thieves as well as his own children -- such a wise and compassionate lesson.

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  11. Your dad is a very wise man. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

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  12. That was a good way your daddy 'fixed' the thieves.

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  13. I don't know that I would have thought of this, but it was the perfect way to deal with the situation. Your dad was a wise man.

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  14. Perfect. That's called 'heaping coals of fire on their heads'. Love it. Thanks for dropping in on Mumblings.

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  15. What a beautiful story of forgiveness and a lesson learned. Your dad was a very wise man.

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  16. What a great solution to the problem. Your Dad handled it perfectly. I enjoyed this story.

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  17. What a wise and gracious way to handle the problem. He taught them a lesson they will never forget and did it in such a way that he reached their hearts.

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  18. Wow! What a great way to handle it. Your dad was a wise man. Most guys would have probably got their shot gun out of the basement and scared the thieves away.

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  19. Thank you for visiting my blog! I look forward to reading your adventures and stories. We are Mennonites!!! And I do not have any Amish followers, you are my first.

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  20. Oh this story is filled with hope. It is what we are called to do, Love our neighbors and turn the other cheek. What a wise man daddy was.

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  21. I think you dad handled the situation in a way those boys will never forget. He also provided such good lessons to his own children -- in kindness, generosity, dignity, loving care of others.
    Thanks for visiting my blog. I will be back to visit you again.

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  22. Thanks for stopping at my blog. I love this memory and the way your Dad handled it!

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  23. Hello
    Thanks for comment on my blog.
    Come back
    , we love to have new viewers.

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  24. Wow! I’m impressed by your dad. I know I probably would not have handled the situation in such a wise and dignified manner.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.